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Same here! After a few bites, I get this pressure in my chest/windpipe area, that is only relieved by walking. I have been able to eat more often, but I can't take in a lot. This morning it took me two hours and 10 minutes to eat 5oz of Chobani yogurt. I am not complaining, I am just adjusting to my new life style! Still working on the protein though!

Thank you. My insurance not only requires a 6 month diet, but it requires that I lose 10% of my body weight, and I'm really struggling with that. I will have to continue my monthly appts until I reach the goal. The scale doesn't seem to me moving at all!!

Hi! I just had my surgery(sleeve)Tuesday. My husband had his done last month. He is already down 40pounds! Im so proud of him, and cant wait to start having some of the same results (although much slower lol) I'm really looking for any tips that I can pass along to him as well as myself. I teach 4th grade and we own a crawfish boil n go that we run together after our day jobs. Today I returned to work (both jobs) and I was moving very slow to say the least. I'm really excited to read and learn about all of your amazing stories and I appreciate any advice you can give me. Oh, I also have 10 &4 year old boys, so if anyone has any advice or warnings.... I pray the worst is behind me, but if there is anything you can help me prepare for that would be awesome!! Tara

Hey everyone! I'm currently 6.5 months, and lose at an average 10-12 lbs a month. Last month was rough losing only 5 lbs, but I know it was my fault, too many carbs and little exercise. Anyhow I went back to the basics, protein first and low carb. Well this week I've lost 6 lbs! I'm not complaining, but is that normal for a 6 month sleever? I was dropping 6lbs a week at months one and two. Maybe because I still a little ways to goal, and I'm considered a "bigger loser". My stats are: HW 328, SW 312, Current 222 lbs. I hope to be at 190 by my wedding in 2 months! Thanks in advance for your feedback! Sette

I would go by your surgeon's guidelines also. My surgeon allowed really mushy cooked veggies during the mushy phase and then other veggies at 6 weeks out. Iceberg lettuce could be tried at 4 weeks but I waited till 6. Other lettuces at 6. I really never had trouble tolerating anything other than broccoli and cauliflower that weren't cooked well around 6 to 10 weeks. I can eat them raw now at nearly 6 months out. I like eating veggies bc they fill me up, they are low cal, good fiber, and I can eat about a cup of them bc of the water content. I usually eat them as a snack bc I can't eat much of them after eating protein.

Hello sophinator with ever post you read about 30 pounds lost in 3 years, there so many post about 116 pounds under a year. How do I know that, am one of those people I lost 116 pounds 10 months after my surgery. And there are so many more here like that also. So do not become discourage. With some heard work you to can do it. Best wishes.

I had the same dilema.. only my surgeon told me either surgery would be equally successful. I wish he had said one would be better than the other. In the end I decided I'm going to do the bypass because my insurance will only pay once, so if I had sleeve and wanted to later get the bypass... it would be out of pocket. Also, the bypass has more of a history than the sleeve. If the sleeve had another 10 years or so of data/history I may have gone with that.

I went to my first dietary consultation and was asked what kind of surgery I was interested in. I said adjustable band and was told not to get that because 30 to 50% of them had to come out, and that there was no hunger loss either; they hadn't done one in 3 years. That's not what the introductory class literature said; they had nothing but praise for it. I took the class 10 years ago and banding had been around for 8 years and they were pushing it as the next new thing. Now its the gastric sleeve. I was told that nutrient absorption was very high, better than gastric bypass and everyone was getting it, plus you would have no sensation of hunger. I would now need 60 grams of Protein and it pretty much has to be animal protein. Strange thing is I still feel like I am getting the pitch here. I saw the suggested diet and it was pretty severe. like one boiled egg and a half a English muffin for Breakfast. Anybody here been through this. How honest is the presentation I was given do you think? Man I am eating like a horse and still losing weight atm. Only been a few days since my first appointment so I have time to start this. I do wonder about the veracity of what I have been told though. ​

I have now completed almost 10 months with the Lapband and I am very excited about the results. When I started in May 2013 I weighed 360 pounds and I could feel myself slowly dying. My life consisted of my office chair and my recliner chair at home. Otherwise I did very little. Now I weigh 220 pounds and am 20 pounds away from my goal. I really can't believe it has gone so well. I have only 2.5cc in my band and I have only had two PB incidents since I started (both were my fault-eating way to fast). I can eat pretty much anything I want (in a lot less quantities) and really the only thing I have had to give up was carbonated beverages. I am now approaching what I consider the most critical stage and that is weight maintenance which has always been the most difficult thing for me. I don't ever get really hungry anymore and the biggest challenge/temptation for me is late night Snacks. I can go all day long till 9pm and have no cravings, but when I sit down to watch TV after that the head hunger returns. I have tried to keep my calorie input a bit lower in the day so that I do not go over when I snack. I think I may have to change what type of foods I snack on to find something more filling. Any suggestions? For those of you beginning on your journey I am proof it can be done. I simply followed my doctors rules as strictly as possible, I try to exercise a half hour to an hour a day. You need to be patient as it took most of us a lot longer to gain the weight than it does to lose it. The three most important things are to 1) Eat slowly and chew your food well, 2) Track every calorie (thank god for My Fitness Pal), and 3) Exercise everyday for at least a half hour. If you have a bad day, don't beat yourself up, just start back the next day. We all slip a little, just don't make it an excuse to quit or fail. This message board has been extremely helpful to me. I have tried to focus on the positive messages that I have read, and try to use the negative ones as things to be careful about. Thank all of you for your help.

yea I don't blame you for wanting to wait my daughter turns 18 this year the last in my nest...bittersweet lemme tell ya..lol I go for my pre-op on the 21st I have a 10 day diet been told the first 3 days are awful but after that it's ok I can't wait to get all this on a physical roll all the paper junk is done and I'm soooo ready

Hi I'm Leigh married with 2 teens 45 from Texas I'm 4'10" and 235# I've got my pre-op set for 5/21 and surgery set for 6/2 this is what and where and the who is at the bottom of the link Trinity Mother Frances Health System This helped me... DO NOT WATCH IT IF YOU ARE EASILY GROSSED OUT [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds_nwlgQztE]YouTube - Lap Band Surgery[/ame] Suggested reading from my Nutritionist The Success Habits of Weight-Loss Surgery Patients by Cook, Colleen M. and The Emotional First Aid Kit: A Practical Guide to Life After Bariatric Surgery by Alexander Cynthia L I'm excited nervous happy scared hardheaded and ready to go I should have done this 3 years ago I'm a hardcore gamer computer mainly but PS2 and 3 also WoW BF2 9Dragons MOH lot of mmorpgs and 1st person shooters I do graphics, OE scripted stats, tags, all kinds of different stuff mostly with Paint Shop Pro 9 I have 10 but blah..lol ~sigh~ yes i'm a GEEK :tongue2: and I LOVE it can't wait to get banded~

LB, I can't address all the things you mentioned, although it sounds alot like MY life. But, you're doing fine! You've already lost 10 lbs. in less than a month. That's 2-1/2 lbs per week. The doctors generally recommend 1-2 lbs per week. I won't give you the exercise speech because you already KNOW what you need to do. But, I will remind you that you'll lose inches faster if you're moving! And, the clothes will fit looser faster!!! Just be patient with your body. It needs time to heal. Just keep following your doctors instructions. Come in here anytime you need a boost, or just come in a visit. You can make some good friends here. I didn't keep my band a secret, but I don't have anyone close by that has been banded. I wish I did. When I go to lunch with my friends, I feel strange eating with them. I would suggest going to some of the support meetings and meeting others who are banded. That way you have someone to talk to, or go to lunch with, etc. that understands. Brighter days are ahead. You'll see when you go back next week for a fill. Good luck to you.

Hi! I'm Pamela. I have only had the band for 10 days so i can't help you on the long term part but i have had a great experience with the band so far. You are truly blessed to have a brother that is willing to pay for your surgery. I would not have been able to get the band if it wasn't for my insurance. Mine would cover the gastric bypass or the lap band. I researched them both and decided to go with the lap band. I wasn't comfortable with the mortality rate and the band is fully reversible if needed. Every person is different but i am so glad i chose the band. Good luck on making the right decision for you. Pamela lost 31 lbs to date

HAd surgery on December 10, I was able to lose the recommended 10 lbs before and have lose 10 lbs after. Don't recommend having surgery at the end of a cold . I never felt so thirsty. So far so good . I see the surgeon this coming week and I definitely am beginning to feel hungrier . I weight 220 and it's been over 20 years since I was under 200. Trying to keep on track

I am Bea as well, except my Mom was really my Step Father. I was constantly "derided" when it came to food... to the point where I would be physically mocked to show what I looked like as I was sitting on the couch. He would puff his cheeks out and hold his arms out around his belly to make it look like I was THAT fat. I wasn't. I was MAYBE 10 Lbs over weight. Anyway, here I am 30 years later with severe emotional problems tied to food. Parents, PLEASE don't do this to your children.

Thanks so much for your input Sleeve Master! I completely agree with you about the piece of plastic floating around! I kind of feel like eventually that's gonna have to come out, even if it's 10 yrs down the road! I feel like I'd be setting myself up for another surgery in the long run and I really don't want to do that. I hate needles as it is! Unfortunately I don't have the money to do it out of pocket. Turns out my insurance will pay all but about $2,000 and I've been saving that up for the last 6 months that I've been doing my diet plan. I really can't afford much else. I'm nervous about surgery because of the risks, but I've been exposed to those risks before with 2 c-sections, so it's nothing new to me. I'm just looking forward to losing the weight, exercising and enjoying it, playing with my little ones, and just feeling better about myself. I used to have such confidence, but it has just plummeted in the last 3-4 yrs, after I had my kids. And, I believe this will help my husband and I's sex life as well. I'm a lights off kind of girl and I hope to be much more confident when this is all said and done! After thinking about it all, it just seems like the sleeve is the most logical solution for me! I'm really happy I found this website about it and actually researched it! Looking forward to feeling happy and healthy again! Thanks again for your input! It is greatly appreciated! Katie

Hey, girl, Welcome aboard!! I'm a newbie, too and my sch'd date is 10-13-11, so we are in the same place. I have been hanging around this site alot lately, and I have been learning so much! It is alot of really encouraging and knowlegable folks who like to help others. Pretty cool, huh? Where are you having your procedure? I live in New Hampshire, about an hour north of Boston. There is a group of Oct 2011 sleevers coming together- it will be fun to take the journey together.

I am only 6 weeks post op...so I really remember that feeling: excited AND nervous! This surgery is the best thing I've ever done. I have done EVERY diet and gained and lost the same 20 lbs for the past 20 years. My surgery went really well...and I healed very quickly. Some of the things I did (not necessarily on my surgeon's list...but I did them anyway!) I drank organic aloe vera juice 24 hrs post op and continued for 30 days. It's VERY healing. If you buy the EXPENSIVE brand, which is George's (available at health food stores) it tastes just like water. I also started taking arnica immediately after surgery. Great for healing and not bruising! It's difficult to get your water in, but it's very important. I couldn't handle the broth (yuk) but I ate sugar free jello and popsicles that were fruit...with no sugar added. It was good to get my first meal 10 days post op!! Now, even if I try a bite of something I'm not supposed to have....I know how limited I am for space in my new small stomach, so I can't try much more than a bite of any forbidden food!! I'm eating breakfast: either an egg, or a protein shake, or a half skinned apple with peanut butter. I LOVE soup for lunch and I make a chicken tortilla soup with lots and lots of beans and some salsa and spices (great protein) and for dinner I usually have fish, or chicken or turkey with a little cooked veggies. In between, I'll have a small amount of protein shake or some peeled fruit. My clothes are getting baggy....which I love. My only worry is because I'm in my 60's I'm already noticing some extra facial wrinkles and sags I've lost 39 lbs in 6 weeks (no required loss pre-op). Good luck to you....I know it will go well!

It's fairly common to feel listless and unenergetic and just downright uninterested in many things for the first week or so of the liquid diet. This happens because your body is switching from using carbs/sugar for energy to using fat for energy. It takes several days for your body to make enough of the enzymes and other things it needs to be able to burn enough fat. After a week or 10 days on the liquid diet, things will probably get back to normal.

Now that I am "approved" for surgery and this is becoming a reality, I figured NOW is the time to post my story so far. I am 49, 5'7 and 235 at my highest weight. (Can't believe I actually wrote that down for public consumption!) That made me a BMI of 36.8. I had considered weight loss surgery off and on throughout the years of yo-yo dieting. My last good weight loss was about 30 pounds back in 2009 and I was lighter then. So that means I have put on about 40 pounds in four years. (Less than a pound a month, not too bad, right??!! Ha!) I have some lung problems, high blood pressure (if you would only lose weight, you wouldn't have to take these pills anymore....) and hypothyroidism. Too much for someone my age I decided and started considering the lap-band. I am a nurse and considered that to be "least invasive" and "easiest" to have done surgically. On November 28, 2012, I signed the hubby and I up for an informational seminar. While hubby wasn't interested (I'm hoping to change that), I listened to the doctor present the band, sleeve and RNY options. To his credit, he didn't try to sway anyone to any one procedure, but I had changed my thinking from lap-band to sleeve. I submitted my "insurance verification" form and left. In lateDecember/early January, I was contacted by the doctor's office and told that my insurance (CIGNA) did provide WLS benefits. I had started a post-holiday "kind of" diet about mid-January with Weight Watchers. I saw my surgeon for the first time on January 28, 2013. We discussed all the usual things and agreed that the sleeve was a good procedure for me. My only beef with the process was that the coordinator told me "All your insurance needs is the evaluation and 3 months of diet history. Just print out Weight Watchers and it will be ok." More on that in a minute.... From there, I had: EGD (endoscopy) on 2-4 and found to have a small hiatal hernia. Psych eval and nutrition eval on 2-13. In the mean time, I had researched CIGNA's bariatric policy and found out that I needed a lot more than "Just 3 months of Weight Watcher history." Rather than chance it, I went and got clearance from my PMD and met with a nutritionist for 3 months of a supervised diet. (2-20, 3-16 and 4-20...boy am I glad I started that "kind of diet" back in January!) Am now at 222 (fluctuating pounds.) My coordinator submitted my packet on about May 10th with a comment of "everything looks great...should be no problem." On May 17th, I was notified of denial...based on two points. My physician had failed to state that he BOTH recommended me for the surgery AND cleared me (he only recommended me....despite the fact I had asked him to do both.) The nutritionist did a summary report that detailed all three visits, with all of the components required, but CIGNA wanted it in three separate notes. At least it wasnt because of medical criteria! So...my coordinator got all that together and on May 21st, she submitted again, stating it could take up to 90 days, but probably not that long. The waiting is the hardest part!!! Well, today I got the news I was waiting for...APPROVED! It took 7 business days for the appeal. Now we are in fast-forward mode: 6-10: Pre-op meeting with surgeon to sign consents, etc... 6-15: Start of pre-op diet! (Not looking forward to it....) 6-17: Pre-op lab/x-ray work at hospital 6-25: Surgery I travel for my work (I am a healthcare consultant) and will be out of town three weeks between now and then, so it will fly by! I am so excited. I think now that it's a reality, my husband is concerned. I got the "If it makes you happy, it makes me happy" but I am not convinced. I know he is supportive of my decisions, but probably a bit insecure at the same time. food has always been a big part of our life and I have been slowly withdrawing from that over the last few months. Thanks for listening! I am so darn excited I just needed to share it with someone. I have told very few people. I will update after the surgery.

Hello I'm a young 32 year old woman who's battled weight my whole life. After starting a journey towards weight loss surgery in 2008 I have finally achieved it just past a week ago. Got RNY, laparoscopically, finally getting back to feeling human again. I'm down 5lbs so far and feeling good. I've had a difficult time healing due to a hysterectomy and bypass in the same surgery. So ready, and happy to have finally started this chapter my book of life!

Before you go to surgery please read my story and if you want to know about other people who are now in horrible health some blind, some bedridden, others no longer can work or take care of their families, we ALL have one thing in common THE LAP BAND. Dr. Laker installed my Lap Band July 16, 2007, he never warned me of any possible side effects, below is my story. Lap Band installed 07, vomiting and pain began immediately thought it was normal. Started going to Doctors and hospitals nothing found, then the diarrhea started, again Doctors and hospitals, colonoscopy and endoscopy 01/2012 (date of discovery) found lap band had eroded into my stomach. Lap Band removed 01/2012, very ill, still pain, vomiting and diarrhea. Constant vomiting caused a hernia so another surgery to repair hernia 11/2012. Still pain, vomiting diarrhea continually going to Doctors and hospitals, specialist does another endoscopy 07/08/2013 and finds major problems where my stomach was repaired, sends me to a surgeon immediately because he was so worried, saw surgeon within two days on 07/10/2013. Surgeon did his own endoscopy 07/22/2013, told me the lap band did a number on my stomach and he could not do the repair said I needed to see him in his office 07/26/2013 so he can go over alternatives with me. I am still vomiting and have diarrhea more times a day than I can count and the pain is severe. My Surgeon is a Bariatric Specialist and he no longer does Lap Band Surgery because of the damage Lap Bands do. He would make a great witness on my behalf. I go nowhere except to Doctors and Hospitals, when I do I take a bag that consists of trash bags, paper towels, baby wipes, Water and a change of clothes. I vomit and have blasting diarrhea EVERY TIME I eat anything. I am single but cannot date; my boyfriend broke up with me because he could no longer handle my illness. My life has changed so much. Sometimes I crawl from the bed to the toilet several times a day, sometimes I make it sometimes not. I have vomited and had diarrhea while in the car and in the presents of others. A couple of months ago I was so sick that I was on a gurney at the hospital the vomiting and diarrhea would not stop and a hospital employee made the comment "disgusting she crapped all over herself". The pain is like having hundreds of hot knives cutting into my stomach. I have so many scars it is embarrassing, I will never be able to take my clothes off in front of anyone again. This is a small list of what I have been through and there are others just like me and some are worse like losing their eye sight. I have all of my documentation along with pictures to back up my story. I feel the Doctor was negligent because he never warned me of these possible side effects and the danger. The Lap Band was defective because it eroded into my stomach. My life will never be the same and my health will never be restored. I should have been warned so that I could make a decision based on the facts. « Show less Events 07/28/2013 - Was told that another surgery was needed, stomach is like sewing cottage cheese 07/23/2013 - Endoscopy 07/18/2013 - Endoscopy 11/10/2012 - Hernia Surgery (from vomiting and diarrhea) 01/25/2012 - Lap Band Removed 01/19/2012 - Colonoscopy and endoscopy (date of Discovery) 07/16/2007 - Lap Band installed

I am new to VST and have found it very helpful in doing my research on the sleeve. My doctor is Dr. Yu in Houston and my surgery date is set for April 16. I am 54 and have become obese gradually over the last 10 - 15 years. I do not have any comorbidities but have decided to have the surgery to ensure my future health. My family has lots of heart disease and I know I need to change my eating and exercise habits before I develop serious health problems. My baby sister (40 yrs old) had the surgery in Dallas in January and is doing really well. She has had a pretty easy time of it - I hope it runs in the family!! I am dreading the Pre-op diet - Protein shakes are yucky to me - but I am determined to push my way through to get to the goal. Excited and nervous at the same time.

http://www.amazon.com/Isopure-Protein-Drink-Grape-ounces/dp/B001M0NJNC/ref=sr_1_10?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1368475024&sr=1-10&keywords=isopure+zero+carb Isopure Plus 0 Carb Protein Drink Grape Frost, Fruit Punch was one drink I used and you can get it delivered from Amazon

My name is LaQuita and I had my first appt on Feb 22nd. Was so blessed to find out that our ins Co did not require any "hoops". No pshcy eval, no nut, no 6 Months waiting, nothing!!! I was SO excited. We have BCBS of TN BUT through my husbands Co there is a special provision for WLS so that none of this is required. Just a BMI over 40 /35 with Co mobidities. I' fit in the over 40 bmi. And proof of 5 years being "obese". I really don't like that word! I called yesterday and as of Friday the paperwork had been faxed over to BCBS for pre cert so I am waiting on them now. Aa of yesterday it wasn't showing up 'in the system, so I could not get an update from them. The surgeon won't see me and set a surgery date until he has surgical clearance from the ins. Co. So I'm waiting.......... I know after reading alot of others posts that this wait time is nothing compared to so many others. I just pray that the rest goes as smoothly. I've enjoyed reading all the tips / suggestions / and ideas u all have posted and I look forward to joining this 'club. Oh I forgot, I have had lap and surgery 2 times prior. First in 09, then I got food poisoning one time, started throwing up band prolapsed. Had to have it un-filled, then removed. Had 2 nd one put in in '10 then 8 months later I got the flu, it prolapsed too. It took several months to get it out. This was in Dec 11. I wanted the sleeve to start with in 08 but the insurance Co. Didn't approve them yet. Then in 10 when he took the first one out, he would only revise with a band not a sleeve. At the time I did not realize that other doctors would revise someone else work! You live & learn. Thankfully the Lord had lead me else where and Lord willing I will be having it within the next 4-6 weeks. Thanks again everyone for making this such an inviting & comfortable place to come! Blessings to u all!! First visit: Feb 22nd Faxed to Ins co March 2nd Waiting on pre-cert approval _CURRENT!