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I'm pretty excited so I just wanted to share. My surgery has been approved!!!! I'm so close now I can taste it. What's left........... well my pre-surgery class, surgeon appointment, vena cava filter placement (2 weeks prior to surgery) and then finally surgery! I can't wait to get my actual surgery date. It seems like it's been such a long road but I guess it really hasn't. The anticipation is enough to make you feel that way. They say my surgery will probably be sometime in the first 2 weeks of October. I'm down 20 pounds thus far and hope to do at least another 10-15 prior to surgery. Anyone else getting sleeved around that time?

Did you have a DVT? I am having my sleeve 10/31/11.

I know what you guys mean!i made a video and it took me 10 times to finally make one lol,I kept saying um and losing my words!i have to check out that YouTube channel,I haven't seen it yet,thanks!!

Thanks everyone, It feels surreal still. Yes I have been reading since I started my journey, so hopefully I am ready, I can feel it in my heart that I'm ready. I have to start the clean out and I already started getting the things I need for post op minus the Protein shakes since I have been reading that some peoples tastes change so I will see what happens with me. I do have the unjury starter kit, and the Isopure grape and fruit punch for the Clear Liquids phase. My date has changed since this morning to 10/18, my surgeon only does sleeves at a certain hospital so it had to be changed. Thank you so much everyone for being here, I can't wait to see you on the losers bench.( I couldn't wait to say that!!!) Oh and my doctor doesn't do a pre op diet so I will just watch what I eat and go to the gym to prepare.

Very, very well said. I had a friend contact via FB once I came out about my VSG. His comments to me after explaining the dietary guidelines, and life post-op were astonishing. He said, and yes I quote " I seriously can not give up eating an entire chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes just to be skinny." My reply to him was " well in 5-10 years tell me how that chicken fried steak works for your cholesterol, and hypertension." Least to say, we haven't spoken about my surgery since that day. He's a mere 5'10" and pushing 400lbs at the ripe age of 28. He has 4 children that are all under the age of 10. My heart breaks for him because he can't see that the benefits of losing weight and gettingg closer to a normal weight outweigh the loss of strapping a feed bag around our necks.

Hi I lost about 50 lbs since June and recently gained 10 lbs. I need diet ideas to get back on track would like to lose another 30 lbs.....thank you

Tracy, I read that you are attending the seminar this Saturday. Are you attending Dr. Malley's seminar at the Holiday Inn Mission? If so, I will also be attending the 10:00 seminar. I've been reading these boards for a few months now and have written down the names of some local members so if I ever decide to do this, I can contact this group of people to get more detailed info on how they are doing since surgery. Maybe I'll see you there. Sharon

Like MissDiva just after the sleeve we almost always have our doubts, regrets and fears. Now 10+ months out I do not have ANY regrets except for the fact that I didn't do it earlier. As far as "giving up" and "almost dying" I would say that I most certainly did NOT give up, if anything I gave IN, gave in to common sense and the realization that I was slowly killing myself for sure. I had to do SOMETHING and the surgery was IT for me. I've lost 165+ pounds, lowered my blood pressure, stabilized my blood sugar and eliminated a bunch of other issues.

Hi everyone,I'm new, I'm a 41 year old woman. Im originally from Ohio but & I live in Louisiana. I just found this group/forum, so much info!!!! I've Been discussing the surgery with my Doc since October. Finished all screenings etc (even the psych test ) Did my preops last Wednesday. Surgery this Wednesday (12/19)!!! Just found this website/forum. SURGERY WEDNESDAY>>>YEAH!!! Not scared, just excited & ready to get healthy!!! On the outside i'm calm cool & collected, on the inside I'm doing bungee jumping cartwheels! Appreciate prayers, well wishes & advice. ~Untamed R

I agree with previous posters. If the first mask you get doesn't work then keep trying until you find one that does. I use the nose pillows, too. I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea several years before I had surgery. Other than surgery, getting that diagnoses was one of he best things I had done because I had no idea what a good night's sleep was like. Getting a good night's sleep on a regular basis literally changed my life. My sleep apnea has improved a great deal since surgery. I made an appointment with my sleep Doctor within about 10 days post-surgery because the pressure was too high. He switched me to an automatic machine and I love it.

Hi there. Hope everything will go well for you. My op date is 10 June and has been on liquid diet for nearly 2 weeks and mus stay on it for a nother 10 days!!! I feel the same way about the shakes now. Anyway take care and thumbs up for tomorrow!!!!

I like the idea of Paleo, but have some issues with how some people perceive the diet. For example, cavemen didn't drink milk, but once people started keeping cows, some gradually evolved the ability to continue making lactase into adulthood.. and when food was scarce, those that could subsist on milk didn't starve, so they continued on to pass on those genes. I am a fortunate recipient of those genes, so since I can digest milk, why wouldn't I drink it? Trust me, if cavemen COULD drink milk.. they would have too! Lol. Cavemen had access to a wider variety of foods than we have today. Modern agriculture has narrowed our foodstuffs so far, that we now primarily subsist off of maybe 100 items (and only about 10- 20 of them make up the bulk of our diets).. that the idea of narrowing what we eat even further.. seems like a really bad idea. Having said that, processed, chemical laden foods have no place at my table either. I'll do Paleo+ (I also want my legumes, potatoes, and dairy).

Vent... having a difficult time getting bariatric doc office to submit to insurance. I did a 6 month nutritional program through my former insurance, gave release to doc office (still haven't requested it). I also did 10 months of Weight watchers from august 2016 - may 2017 and even had doctor visits in august, October, April, (and several others) where my weight was recorded and even nutrition discussed - though the visits were not specifically for that. I have talked to my current insurance several times and they are very much encouraging me to have my doc office submit for approval. Especially now since my medical tests revealed a hiatal hernia and gerd (i knew I had gerd) and that sometimes a waiver is given. However, the person at my doc office is being a bit snippy about turning it in for approval because she thinks the people I talked to at my insurance are wrong. I am trying to get them to submit but agh. (they also still have to request my ekg results since hospital was not theirs and get the online bariatric psych eval place to actually send my approval results). A bit frustrated. Just in case I started the 6 month nutrition visits through my doc back on the 6th

Mine is on 12/19 and will need to do a liquid diet 1 week prior. I'm a little nervous as well but I bet you'll do great. Just think, its the beginning of your new life. Good luck. Sent from my LG-H918 using the BariatricPal App

I'm 2.5 weeks post op. I'm in a stall and it's so frustrating. I lost 28 preop which was great but only 17 (not only but you know) since surg - pretty Much all of that in 10 days. So 45 pounds since last August. I've read all about the 3 week stall and I kept telling myself to just let it go but it's harder to deal with than I thought it would be. I'm doing everything right, except exercising. Do you exercise when you're eating 600 calories a day? I'm lightheaded and muscle fatigued when I just carry something. Maybe I'm rushing it. I just really don't want to screw this up, I mean, really! I did this huge thing to help insure suscess. How utterly frustrating it is to stall!!!!! I too hold onto weight during my period, at least I did presleeve. To eat 600 calories a day and not lose weight is just really discouraging. I'm sorry I'm venting on your thread. I've read everything I can and *know* it's normal but in the back of my mind, it feels like failure.

I'm ten months out and down 108 lbs. I'm about 6-7 lbs. from my doctor's goal and 16-17 lbs. from my goal. Wearing a size 10/12 on the bottom and a medium on top. Pretty much all of my extra weight is in the stomach/hip area. Feeling great and trying to start jogging. Hoping that will lean out the middle section. This photo shows me and my daughter on Easter. ????

What harm are you talking about I've been taking Lansoprazole (Prevacid) for like 10 years and haven't noticed anything more harmful than being severely fat. Post operatively I've been prescribed Pantoprazole (Pantoloc) for 6 months then I'll go back to Prevacid if I still have reflux.

Thanks for your input. I do seem to be getting better each day. The fever is lower each day and the pain is moving to different areas each day. I was so happy to hear I didn't have a leak but surprised others haven't had an abscess. It sounded common after any type of surgery on your stomach. Going on day 4 out of 10 for the antibiotic treatment. I see my dr on Wednesday. I have no desire to eat anything but have been pushing in the water. Hopefully this was just a blip on my radar and will get back on track ASAP.

I am on day 8 since surgery. I have been doing well with water and vitamins, get about 50g protein. Prior to the surgery I could walk/jog a 10 min mile. Now I find myself out of breath if I walk my daughter to school which is around the block. I get really feverish and tired. My energy level is really low and all I want to do is sleep. Is this normal? I am thinking so, but when does energy pick up and is there anything I can do to boost it?

Hi! I just wanted to introduce myself (and my husband). I am a 30 year old registered nurse who has struggled with my weight for my entire life. My husband is a 33 year old "computer dork" who has also struggled with his weight for longer than he can remember. We both were extrememly active in high school, and even into college, but of course that changed when we hit "real life". We have both lost weight and gained it back. But thankfully we are both getting banded next week - me on Monday 7/28 and him on 7/29!! One of the things that attracted us to each other and has kept us together is our experience with weight loss and gain. We can relate to one another and can be each other support (and unfortunately, each others worst enemy!!). But we are tired of the struggle of losing weight and not being able to keep it off. We have both FINALLY admitted to ourselves that we need help! As I said we are getting banded next week at the Institute for Advanced Bariatric Surgery, in Lenexa, Kansas, by Dr Wanda Kaniewski. We are SO excited! We are struggling through the dreaded 10 day liver-shrinking/liquid diet but are determined to get through it! I have been "lurking" around the site for several months now and decided I had better introduce myself. Thank you to everyone who has provided support to me (even though you don't even know it!). It's great to have some place to go and share triumphs and tribulations with people who understand! Wish us luck!!! :eek: ~~Allison

I'm trying to figure out if I've met my sweet spot. I have lost 58 lbs since I had my surgery on April 03, 09. 20 lbs came from the pre-diet. I think I have about 5cc in a 10 cc band. Most of my appetite is in the p.m. hours. I drink 2 cups of coffee in the morning and can go without breakfast. If I have breakfast I have to really take it slow and do not eat very much. I have lunch at 1:00 and It doesn't take much for me to fill full but by dinner time I seem to be starving and can tolerate almost any type of food. My last fill was Oct 22 and my next one is Nov 30. I've probaly lost 5 lbs this month. I have cheated by snacking later in the day. I've had 4 episodes of pb and its from not chewing my food well and eating to fast. I'm afraid if I don't get a fill then I want lose any weight. I want to be able to lose some weight in December. I've always gained in December due to the holidays. The month that I went without a fill I only lost 1 lb so when I went in Oct he put in 1cc. I think I need a small fill. Just curious as to what others think.

Good morning, my name is Debbie, I found this web throught the book "The Expert's Guide To Weight-Loss Surgery" I started my process on August 31st 2011! I am scheduled for my LapBand surgery on May 1st 2012!! May Day It sure has been a journey so far, some what I call set backs alone the way, I was denied in December due to not having the 6 mth supervised diet, sine then I have on my own lost 10 lbs. I have been doing a lot of pre op preperation as I am sure some of you know about! Rite now it is count down time. "16" Days to go & as I like to call it "HAPPY NEW BIRTHDAY TO ME!" :wub: I have a lot of thought's and feeling rite now I do hear this in normal. I am very exercise active but also have a wonderfully good/bad relationship with food. I think one of my biggest obstacles is going to be the whole social aspect of food & drink. But I also know I need to do this! I am excited to be a part of this online support group & meeting new people with simular experiances. I welcome any & all feed back! Hope to see you soon! Debbie~

My sleeve date is Oct 19, Memorial Regional, can't wait Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using the BariatricPal App Good luck, liquid week start Oct 12th Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using the BariatricPal App

Hi Nicci, You are still quite young (30) so compared to me, your "impending time" for health stressors may be less than mine (I'm 43). And, of course, I don't know if your family has a history of serious health problems such as cardiac issues, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, etc. Any one of those is life threatening and many of them seem to come as a "package" to those of us who are morbidly obese. Our weight really does "drag us down', if not sooner, than later. My starting weight was nearly identical to your current weight, and I'm very close to your same height. I WISH I had had the option to have the VSG done at age 30! I could have had a much different last 13 years indeed! We have a family history of cancer (breast, bladder and brain), hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, strokes, etc. I am healthy now, but if I don't get "hold" of things NOW, I am in for a world of hurt in the next decade. And it only gets worse from there.... So I had the VSG done in May, 2012. And I am now close to 80 lbs down (in less than 5 months) with another 100 or so to go! I feel great! I'm off my asthma meds (4 of them!) since surgery. I can exercise without shortness of breath. I'm down from a size 26/28 (or 4X/5X) to a 18/20 (or XL) now, and really looking forward to maybe being a size 10 or 8 (and maybe smaller!) when I hit goal. Yes, there are risks. But the % of people who develop surgical complications or post-op complications with the VSG is VERY VERY small. The % of morbidly obese people who develop serious, significant and often life-threatening health complications is VERY HIGH. So you're not "playing it safe". You're just putting off the time when the health problems will come. Now, you have a small risk. Later, you have a HUGE chance for life-long debilitating illness(es). I made sure I was very well informed about the possible complications. I prepared my Will, put my affairs in order and made sure that things were going to be taken care of (as best as possible) should anything go wrong. Then I got on a plane (by myself), flew to Mexico and completed the best decision of my life. Give yourself the chance to spend the next 50 years of your life having an active, full and healthy lifestyle with your children and future grandchildren. Don't let your body hold your spirit and your heart back. And while you definitely need to be completely informed and knowledgeable before you make this decision......don't let a few bad outcomes scare you away from the opportunity to change you life for the better. You will see that the number of AMAZING outcomes far far outweighs the poor ones. Do you research, get comfortable with your surgeon's experience, training, background and work environment. Get yourself tested "six ways to Sunday" to make sure you are a good healthy candidate for surgery and if there are any issues, starting working on the ones you have control over NOW, so you can come through the procedure as one of the success stories (like me!). I know you can do this, and you will be so grateful the opportunity exists. But above all, inform yourself and give everything you read a fair assessment. Then make your decision based on ALL the information. Not just the good and not just the bad. Good luck!