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New to this site! Had surgery 5/12/14. Feel pretty great. Woke up feeling good much better than I thought I would:) been getting all 70g of protein in lost 10 pounds! Over all feel amazing! Today was a lil sore which is unusual. Had to take a pain pill today which is a first since I left hospital. Thinking I may have just walked too much. At least I hope:) see dr. Tomorrow for my first visit!

First the really good news. My mammogram and ultrasound last week were perfect! I saw my oncologist on Friday and she said all was well. She was very excited about my weight loss - 25lbs since my last visit. On Saturday my husband and I both had a colonoscopy. All clear at "that end" as well. If you have ever had a colonoscopy you know the drill. Eat breakfast before 10:00 am the day before your test. The rest of the day is only clear liquids and you will either take the pills, which we did, or you drink some awful drink and spend the night in the bathroom. So I got home from work on Friday at 3:45 to start the intake of 32 pills, which started at 4:00. You take 4 pills and then every 15 minutes until 20 pills have been swallowed. Then at 7:00 you take 4 pills every 15 minutes until you complete taking the final 12 pills. And of course, no breakfast. On Sat morning, we got picked up by a car service and taken to the facility for the test and then we got driven home. All in all it was a good experience. So, I didn't eat anything for an entire day and when I stepped on the scale today at the gym I expected I lost a pound or more. Last week I lost 8/10s of a pound and lost the exact same amount - 8/10s of a lb. -today. Wow, I was kind of surprised, but as I always say a loss is a loss no matter how small. I think it convninced me that it is time for my first fill, which is scheduled for Thurs. I will speak with my doctor, or his assistant, to get their opinion. But I believe that after 2 weeks of such a small loss either means I need the fill or I am at a plateau. In either case, I need to depend on the lap band for help this time. I was losing 3-4 lbs at a time. 2 weeks ago I lost 5lbs and then 8/10 for the last 2 weeks. I am still in love with the gym. Even more so now that I have added 3 additional weight training machines. So, I am working out hard, although I didn't go on Friday because of the colonoscopy medication, but went right back today. I hope you are all doing well and enjoying your weekend. Back to the grind tomorrow!

Ok...I'll admit, I jumped the gun there...just so damn excited by the pure domination of the Patriots in the Brady/Belichick era...But you're right...There are a few very accomplished QB's who through years of hard work alone deserve to be on top...Montanna, Marino, Elway, Young...But I do believe that in 10 years both Brady and Payton will top that list. In that order!!!

:001_smile:I am penciled in for July 13th with my surgeon, Dr. Mitchell Roslin at Lenox Hill Hospital here in NY. At this point I am just waiting for final insurance company approval which I hope to have this week. I've been a little frustrated with the process, but that seems mainly to be because I think the surgical coordinator in Dr. Roslin's office is relatively new and I am not so sure she knows what she is doing. Anyway, some of you may remember me from my introduction. I am 44 and the widowed father of three kids 15, 10 and 9. I've battled my weight my whole life, but gained about 25-30 pounds in the last few years as I coped with my wife's illness, death and the aftermath of all that. The good news is that I've told the kids and they are 100% supportive of my decision to have this surgery which is important to me as I really feel that I am doing this for ALL of us. Anyway, I'll keep you posted. Thanks to all of you, especially you Tiffykins, for being such a great source of information, support and inspiration. Brian

It's been a year this week. I am headed to the beach. It's also my husband and my 5 year anniversary. My surgon never set a goal and my personal goal was based on bmi. I haven't technically hit reached that personal numbers goal yet but here are some goals I have met: I can now run 20 minutes comfortably without walking so I jog 40 mins 5-6 days a week. Couldn't even shuffle quickly forward (what jogging used to look like) for 3 minutes pre surgery without gasping like a fish out of water. I had to buy all new clothes. All new. Bras undies and shoes too! I sleep naked and walk around naked IN FRONT of my husband. I used to be too ashamed and would change clothes quickly hiding in the closet. Extra details probably belong in the ladies forum but you can imagine there have been other improvements... No more fat girl waddle. I feel pretty. Out and out pretty. Men smile at me. People are nicer. That goal is harder to explain but it impacts every facet of my life. I have low blood pressure. I am no longer pre diabetic. I don't snore any more. I am not dreading the bathing suit part of the beach. Not wearing a two piece, but even at 19 I wasn't a two piece kinda girl. Goal is a fluid concept. Would do this sleeve again every time.

Mine starting coming off after about 10 days and then I helped them along. I was banded by Dr. Spivak on 6/1/05.

There are a lot of different opinions on calculating Protein needs. I am 266 and was told to target 60 each day. Not that you need extra stress, but you may want to wean your daughter in order to get her ready (and yourself) for the life change you are about to make. I was with the leleche league (pro breastfeeding) and I can tell you you have done so much for your baby already that 2 more months will not matter immunity wise. Most people don't make it past 2 months breastfeeding. You are 10! You could always try to wean and pump as much as you can for her rainy day fund. Good luck!

It takes about a year. I received my referral June 09. I finished Options the first week of April, and received my surgery date in June 10. It's a long process but I'm thankful for all the information Kaiser gives us. Do you know of another Kaiser patient who received their surgery within months of the referral:confused1:?

Ten years of weight creeping up and here I am-- with a BMI of 36 (go me!!) with 2 co-morbidities. Tired of losing and gaining the same 10 lbs five times a year, I decided to take a step.,,or rather a leap. And here we are 8/29-- WLS seminar 9/11 -- first visit. Have Anthem BC of CA so hope I get approved And now I'm working though my list Primary care letter of clearance -- check Blood work-- check Three years of 35 + BMI -- check again (another go me moment!) Doing sleep apnea study tonight To do: Cardiac clearance (required if you're over 50.. And I'm 50 and 2 weeks.) NUT appt Psych eval ( wonder how that will go) So I'm hopeful that I get this all one quickly and get approved ( holding my breath ) Anyone else out there with Anthem BC of CA? Any tips. Oh and I'm an Alabama gal

Today is my 5th day on the liquid diet. However, I am so hungry I could cry. I've lost 10 pounds though and am very happy about that. However, today was a bad day because I wanted food so much. I am also getting indigestion every day and it sometimes keeps awake at night. I had trouble with the protein mix and I emailed the nurse that had given me all of the instructions to inform her that I was having trouble. She told me to use skim milk instead of water and said if that didn't work to contact her back. I've been waiting 2 days and she hasn't replied so I went to Walmart to get Atkins protein drink and it went down so much better. I have had indigestion though for the past 3 days. I am also very, very hungry. :thumbup:

I too had trouble with the protein powder I was given. About my 3rd day I informed the nurse that I could no longer drink it because I was gagging. I can't stand sweet stuff. I am not a candy, donut, cakes or cookies lover that much so I knew if this stuff was sweet, I would have problem. She told me to mix it with skim milk instead of water so I did. She told me to contact her back if it didn't help. It didn't help so I contacted her back and I got no reply back. That was 3 days ago. So, I went on this site to ask people what they drank and someone suggested Atkins protein drink. I got it and it isn't bad. At least it isn't thick. I can drink it down easily. I lost 10 pounds and it is only my 6th day. They have me on it for 12 days instead of 14. What is so frustrating, so many people drank so many different things for the same exact surgery. You'd think it would be the same for everyone. Let me know how you are doing. I know what it is like to have trouble. I truly hope you do well.

I can't believe I actually just wrote that, let alone that it's true. I never thought I would be able to get sleeved, but did some homework and found hospital Jerusalem in Mexico who would perform the surgery on me. I started at 220 and am down 14 pounds on day 8. I'm shocked. I was very excited at first but had a rough time afterward. I had tremendously, really bad acid reflux the first few days. It hasvot much better just some here in there and when I drink cold. I stayed in Mexico for 5 days, 2 too many. The nurses we're not really nurses and no one seemed to know what they were asked a question. The biggest thing was that they didn't understand, even when they say they do. It was really bad. Back home now and trying to figure things out .

I'm surprised you didn't get any responses to this. I'm not a SAHM and my youngest is 10 so I can't answer you, but maybe if I bump the thread up someone else will notice it and have a good answer.

Fill #1 - 3/6/07 - 2.2cc's Fill #2 - 4/17/07 - 3.0cc's Fill #3 - 7/6/07 - 3.5 cc's (I think it was only 2.5cc's because when I went back for fill #4, he could only w/draw 1.8 cc's) Fill #4 - 7/20/07 - filled me back to 3.0 ccs - He should have filled me more! Fill #5 - 8/17/07 - 3.4cc's Fill #6 - 10/08/07 - filled me to 3.8cc's - the best restriction I've ever had,but still could eat big bites of food, so I figured I needed to be tighter. Fill #7 - 11/21/07 filled to 4.0 cc's. By the evening could not hold anything down, not even my saliva. PBing all night - horrilble experieince UNFILL #1 - 11/23/07 - unfilled to somewhere between 2.5 to 3.0 cc's - NO RESTRICTIONS AGAIN :Dancing_wub: Fill #8 - 1/18/08 Went in and the doc filled me back up to just right under 4.0, according to Flouro, it was perfect. Well, by next morning, could not hold down saliva again, ended up back in hospital UNFILL #2 - 1/19/08 - Doctor had to unfill me to 3.0 again because of the swelling from all the PBing for being too tight. Again, NO RESTRICTION - :present: Fill #9 - 2/12/08 - 3.5 cc's - was tight for about a week, now feel lose again. grrrr, still have "some" restriction, just not quite enough! Next fill scheduled for 4/7/08 - I hate that it takes sooooooo long to get in to see the fill doc. FILL #10 - 4/7/08 The doc just added .4cc's, making me at 3.9cc's. I think this might be the one! FILL #11 - Was scheduled on 6/25/08 - but the doc did not fill me up, I was leaving for a cruise on 6/27 so he didn't want to risk me being too tight, so did not get a fill. FILL #11 - 8/5/08 Went for a fill, this time the doc took all my fill out and all he could get out was 2.4 cc's. Filled me up to 4.0 cc's, I left, had to go right back because I could not drink, he took out a little over .2 cc's, he said I'm somewhere between 3.5 to 3.7 cc's. - I had great restriction for 2 weeks, but It has now loosened some. I feel I might need a tad more. I'm worried I have a very slow leak. UNFILL #3 - 8/5/08 - Took a little over .2 cc's out, had pretty good restriction, but still a tad too lose. FILL #12 - 9/17/08 - Added just 1/10th of a cc - I think I'm somewhere between 3.8 to 3.9 cc in a 4cc band. I am hoping and praying this is the fill that I stop with! I do not have another appointment for another fill, will wait this one out and see. Fill #13 - 10/06/08 - Doc added about 2/10's of a cc. He took everything out and put it all back in and said I was about 3.7 to 3.8cc's. - which is where he said I was last time. FILL #14 - 11/10/08 - Doc took everything out and I had about 3.6cc's, which is pretty good. He then filled me up to just under 4.0cc's I believe I'm about 3.9cc's. I ate some canned peaches and set around the office for a bit, made sure none came back up. Seems to be doing good so far. I hope this is my last fill! FILL #15 - 08/10/09 - Added about 1/10th of a cc. I think I'm right at 4.0 cc. Wt on the morning of my fill was at 165. But was very bloated from steroids I was on for the previous week. FILL #16 - 8/31/09 - My last fill lasted 2 weeks then I felt wide open. Went in for another fill, this time he did not take any out and just added 2/10th's of a cc. I think I'm just a little more than 4.1 cc's in a 4.0 cc band. I feel great restriction so far. I'm hoping this last. I'm sick of fills. lol. :bye: - I could tell my fill was wide open, I was starving all the time, wt at the time of fill was 170! grrrrrrr FILL #17 - 10/30/09 - completely drained me, checked for a leak - no leak YAY - added 4.6 cc's - I feel like he didn't add anything, feel wide open! Hungry all the time FILL #18 - 11/09/09 Doc did barium swallow test - I think he thought I was full of it. He saw what I was talking about and agreed I was way too loose. He added 2.5cc's. I feel restriction again, but not a real tight restriction. I have no idea where I'm at these days and I really don't care anymore how much CC's I have, I just want RESTRICTION!!!!!! Fill #19 - 11/23/09 - I had a some restriction, but not enough, the doc added 3/10ths of a cc. I feel pretty good, not too tight, which means it probably will get looser. I will ride this fill out and see what happens. Very discouraged at this point. FILL #20 - 12/28/09 - did not take any fluid out, just added 4/10th's of a cc. Still feel lose, but on the fluro it showed I was tight, so we'll see how it goes.........

Well, it was a short journey to jump through all of Tricare's hoops. I was approved my first try. Now it is a "long" wait to be banded. In comparrison to my 20 years of being heavy it is almost instantanious. I will be banded 6 months from the start of my journey...10 weeks after my approval. My doctor is so booked up. The day I turned 40 my body acted like it never had before. Everything hurt. My sleep patterns grew worse. I'd sleep in and still feel I needed more. I had SEVERE headaches that would last over a week. I had edima in my legs, arms and face. Come to find out I have Sleep Apnea and my Thyroid was 30 points low. I didn't know that your thyroid could control so much. Thankfully I heard Tricare would approve gastric banding as of 2-1-08. It was only December, so I started everything rolling with my testing, counseling, referals and research. It has paid off. Think how far into summer my surery would be if I hadn't started early.

great! it is so nice to see others starting the journey . i just recently made the call & had my consultation with my dr/surgeon. im also 5'4 lol weight seems to show more on us short gals doesnt it im a momma of 3 girls all older 15-16-20 hoping my surgery will be in september of this year !! my goals -- 130 by daughters graduation in 2014 walk into victoria secret and be able to buy ANYTHING cause it fits buy a cute pair of harley davidson jeans wear a cute belt and have it show wear the dress i was married in again !! (( its a size 10-12 )) own a cute bra not from a plus size store!

Hi, Can you elaborate a little on a few of your points? You said sometimes the sleeve is not the best surgery for someone with metabolism issues and that a different surgery may be more appropriate... why and which one? I have been very concerned about this issue. I lost 160lbs 10 years ago on low carb ( I was still overweight -- size 14/16) and managed to keep the majority of it off. I've gained about 60-70 pounds over the last 5 years even though I still adhered to a low carb diet ( just maybe not as strict). Ok, so I'm thinking that maybe my body is immune to the low carb at this point so I tried Weight Watchers.... I GAINED WEIGHT ON WW. That is how I ended up here. I felt surgery was my only hope.... Let me add that I had Thyroid Cancer and my thyroid was removed, but I take Synthroid so that should not be the issue. I also have Multiple Sclerosis but cannot think of any reason MS would affect weight loss. You also said that if you only had 1 protein shake in the morning and 1 protein bar at lunch you would faint... But isn't that close to what we're supposed to be doing. Lets say a protein shake has 200 calories, so far so good right? A protein bar has 200 calories. So we're at 400 calories before dinner. My impression was that staying around 600-800 calories is optimal to keep losing? Help! Now I'm concerned that I will be failure at this!!

Hello all! I just had surgery on 10/15/13! SW 342lbs. I had an ileus post surgery, but Thursday night, I had a major "breakthrough" lol. Now, I'm dealing with chest pain....especially when I breathe and lay down. Not sure if it could be from my boobs (42h) or something else. Anybody else having these issues? Any other October surgeries? Any suggestions on getting comfy on the couch or in bed with the scars?

Hi, I am having lb with plication on 8/10. I was scheduled for the 8th and the surgeon r/s me. I'm nervous! I only have to do liquids the day before surgery but he required me to lose 10 lbs. I have 2 to go! Good luck to you!

I lost 10 pounds in the first week, then it stopped. It takes most people 2 - 4 fills to notice the help of the band. Before that it is just hard dieting. It is called banster hell by many and I would agree. I am 8 weeks post opt and now at 5.6 cc and finally feel like I have a band. Before I could eat anything and felt hungry alot. I followed the rules best I could and ate small meals slowly. But it was hard until the band started working for me. Once your swelling goes down, dont be suprised to feel like you have not even had surgery. It is disappointing and frustrating. But once though banster hell, the weight will starting falling off. If I could give you any advice, I would tell you to follwo the rules best you can and put the scale away for at least one month. You will drive yourself crazy the first few weeks. At least I did. I finally put it up and decided to only weigh at Dr appts until I got to green zone. Best of luck.

You need a fill. That will get you back on track. Don't worry too much about being overfilled. You will know when it is time to stop. You can take that 10-15 lbs off in no time. Good luck.

Hi Amy! There's actually a thread in the specific age group 'banders in their 20's' can be found. I'm 25 & was banded 10days ago. I too have been overweight (obese) for well over 10-15yrs soo pretty much my lifetime! I don't have children either yet. But with the band the key is that its reversible & adjustable unlike gastric bypass for instance. When/if you became pregnant they would simply adjust your band and empty the saline from it and you'd be able to eat normally with no problem. The band does not have to be removed unless for some reason it causes a problem such as it slipped, eroded or was leaking. These complications are the exceptions not the rule. Even if/when you reach your ideal weight & don't desire to lose any more you leave the band in place you can have flluid taken out again to lose some of the restriction but feel confident that you still won't be subject to overeating & thus regain your weight. The band is definitely not a quick fix & still requires a lifestyle change to better eating habits & increase in activity level to see the results you'd desire. I think its best for someone our age because it doesn't tamper with the anatomy of our digestive system so it won't pose as many complications nor will it hender our future of reproduction. It really requires & helps change your relationship with food- for me so far its enabled me to see the difference in my head hunger & actual hunger. Its also showed me my distortion with portions I never in my life thought a cup of soft food (cottage cheese or refried beans) would be too filling! Understanding the disease helps you stick to a plan & me always psyching myself out before that ' id never get full off so little food at jenny craig or in a lean cuisene meal' was part of why they never worked for me. Now I realize I truly do recognize that I eat when I'm not even hungry. The band helped me see that. At our age its the perfect time to re-train our bodies & mindset related to food & health for that long life we have ahead of us! =) And the other reason its good for our age group is that if for whatever reason it didn't work for you, you'd always be able to take it off & choose a diff wls option. Everyone is different & in my opinion this option requires still a lot of self control & will power and if you read through the forum you'll see the results really vary. But I started simply by changing the kinds of foods I ate before I started preop diet- I lost 15lbs, in my 1 week pre op liquid diet I lost 5 more lbs and in one week post op I've lost 5 more lbs. I hope to continue the pattern. I may not... it may go slower eventually or I may hit a plateau or get lazy about excercising. But for once in my life even if I don't lose as much as I want... for once I know that the pounds I do lose will not come back as long as I have this tool inside me curbing my appetite. A lot of the older banders (no offense) speak of gaining most of their excess weight after having kids & a time they remember not being fat, the things they did & wore. In our case we've never experienced that! I only dream about being average size because I really don't remember a time that I was. So why wait until middle age to start living?! You deserve those same experiences, confidence & happiness that most people in their 20s get. That's what makes it worthwhile for me at 25! Best of luck! ~Shay

I am about 7 weeks out. So far, I lost 10 lbs on the pre-op diet and 29 lbs since surgery. It is working for me! Good luck tomorrow!!!!

I had my surgery August 26th, sounds similar to you. Day of Surgery I was 235, went in to get staples out after 10 days and lost 11 lbs. Went today for my first fill and haven't lost anything else. My fill was only 1cc, I was hoping for a little more as I don't feel like I have any restriction. How much was your first fill? My dr. said 2 weeks he will add more. I was also disappointed that it stopped but after talking with some other people I think we have done pretty well. Good Luck.

Monday morning for me too. Best of luck. Definitely a lifestyle change. Been on liquid diet for 10 days and it hasn't been bad. Lost 16 pounds so far. Just less I have to lose after.