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Hello I am almost 3 years out....lost most of my 100-115 (depends on the month) pounds in the first year. Have been kind of stagnent in the WL department for about a year and half....first did not have insurance that covered fills and had to pay out of pocket...I have a fickle esophagas(sp) that if my band is the least bit tightened too much at once spasms and I have to have an almost immidiate unfill. Have about 4.1 in my 11 cc band right not...going for a fill tomorrow...found this sight and looks like a place I need to be....need to get my head in the game for several reasons....guess I am sick of beating myself up and ready to do this thing!! Primary reason is to get invitro...Doc says I need to be at 35 bmi to get best results and since I am only 20 pounds from that should be no sweat right???? Well you would think and that was June and here I am October and still gaining and loosing the same freakin :mad:7-10 pounds...So hopefully talking to others that feel my pain will get me to do what I need to do! Thanks for listening to my rant! bandsterintn!

Truly, not very long. But, I have a lap-band that was ruptured during a fill. So after a failed four year stent w the band I seen a new Bariatric doc and discussed removing the band. He suggested rny. That was in December. I drug my feet for a while and did some research and soul searching. Then seen the doc again in Late march. Paperwork was submitted in April and approved a week later. I had to attend a revision class. A week later after that I had my may 10 & 14 appts. If all goes well, ill have a surgery date by the end of may or early June. So I started attending the support groups last night. I'm seeing the dietician next week as well. Moving right along!

San Diego Susan, Oh, Happy Day! It sounds like you are ready to go! I'm waiting on my date (June 19) with Dr. Thoman in Santa Barbara. It will be 6 weeks between the consultation date and surgery date. It is hard to wait!

Hello all, This is my first post I just found this app. I have been on a program at my local bariatric center since August of 2013. My insurance required I see a therapist, a nutrionalist, 12 months of weigh-ins and to lose 10% of my body weight. I started out at my top weight of 523...started the program at 511. I now weigh 425 at the end of the year program. I got my letter of approval in the mail a few days ago for the gastric sleeve. Im very excited and nervous. I have learned a lot over the last year but still have a lot of questions everyday that pop in my head. Very glad to have found this forum. My surgery date is November 10th , pre-op is on Nov. 6th. I have been married to 12 years to my beautiful supportive wife and have 4 wonderful children. Im so excited for my new life and getting this weight off. Thanks for reading Alan

I am a low BMI'er. My recovery was easy...no complications. My weight loss was fairly quick and steady. I hit goal in 6 months and am now 20lbs below that. Today is my one year sureversary. Some people here say that low bmi'ers loose weight more slowly...and that is somewhat true. You will not loose 20 lbs in one month, but you will reach goal sooner. In the first few months I was loosing apx. 10 lbs per month. Then it slowed to 8 for the majority of the middle months until I hit goal, then 2-4lbs lost per month since then. I am now 20lbs BELOW goal. Started at a size 16ish. Am now in 0's. It's been a pretty amazing transformation.

Hi everyone, I feel blessed to report that I had surgery on 9/17 and I came home 9/19. I have no memory except waking up in my private room. I wanted pain meds because my belly ached. I was moderately thirsty not hungry. I have not had any problems with vomiting except with a liquid pain medicine. I stopped that and now am just taking oxy here and there. But overall I am doing very well with keeping down liquids, soups, water, jello. Home and walking up and down stairs and resting but feeling great! I lost 10lbs just doing the cleanse but haven't lost much yet otherwise that I can tell. I am taking gas-x around the clock but the pain is minor. I hope everyone else is doing just as good!

OMG> I just spent 10 minutes typing it all out!!!! Where did it go? DId I post it on the wrong thread??? Wahhhhh!

Surgery June 11. Down 42 lbs. From size 16-18 to 8/10

:decision: I'm going to have surgery on 6-19-07 and I'm struggling a little with the "Atkins" type diet did great for two weeks and know not so well the last two days. Not sure why. I have had nutritional counceling, a psychological eval and lab work this fri. My Dr. is Dr. M Srekanth in Federal Way, Wa. Any other Tacoma people and any advise on the diet thing?

That's what I'm thinking too since I drink a lot of artificial sweetened juice and crystal light lemonade/fruit punch with the Clear liquids. Before, I liked regular lemonade and lemon in my Water, but if I got too much acid I would get like a little canker sore inside my lip from the acid which went away after stopping the lemon for a while. I have no other symptoms that would signal an allergy, so I'm thinking it's the acidity or a Vitamin deficiency since my surgery instructions told me to go off all Vitamins (and certain meds) 10 days before my surgery on the 4th of November. The WebMD site said it can also be caused by stress or even rubbing of the tongue against teeth or dentures. Egads! But just wondered if anyone else is having to endure this discomfort pre-surgery on top of the stomach growls. Trying to stay strong thru this pre-surgery diet, which is a real test of endurance.

I'm so excited. I am schedule for my surgery on November 12th. I will be out of work for 2 weeks and I can't wait. Let me give you a little back ground information. I'm 41, BMI of 40.5 with no co-morbidities. I have been overweight since I was 10. Tried every diet out there including a doctor supervised liquid diet and nothing works.. or I should say it kinda works but I can't keep the weight off. I looked into getting banded last year but that is when I wanted to try one last ditch effort on my own. Hence the liquid diet. I lost 50 lbs but immediately started to gain it back. I'm sick of being overweight and unhealthy. I want to feel good... and I just don't right now. I feel like a beached whale! :w00t: So I work at a hospital as a CNA on third shift, go to school for Respiratory Therapy and I'm also doing this. I have alot of my plate (no pun intended :smile:) I am going to be so happy to have my band done and I am looking forward to the new ME! Wish me luck.:thumbup:

I was thinking the same thing! I plan on making me a silver bracelet with a round charm hanging off it for every 10 pounds I lose! I'm hoping to have 10 little charms on it to represent 100 pounds some day! This way it will always remind me where I can from.

Hang in there ladies!!!! 3 weeks ago, I was getting in the bed as quickly as possible, not because I was excited for surgery, but because I was so hungry and just wanted to eat! But, I got up that Monday, went to the hospital, and had my surgery....my stomach doesn't feel any different at all, and hasn't since surgery. It doesn't feel like any of it is missing. The best thing.... I don't get hungry at all. I have been struggling with Protein, but I'm doing my best. I am in stage 3 of my post op diet, and I literally make myself eat, just so I have my nutrition. My family always has a dinner out on the weekends, and although the steaks, baked potatoes, buffalo wings and pizza all look amazing, there is no way I will put that mess in my body again! You can still eat healthy, and enjoy it at the same time. You just have to improvise, and learn to make revisions in your diet. I was 150 in high school, just 12 years ago. But after having 3 boys, over the last 10 years, I focused on them, and ate when I had the time, when I was sad, happy, mad...it didn't matter, I just enjoyed eating. It became mental for me, and even now...I still have a few lapses of that same mentality, not hungry, just wanting it...you just have to be stronger than the mind, and go for your goals!! Good luck ladies!!! Prayers to you all for a safe surgery!!!

Hi all! Yes, the waiting is TORTURE! I'm getting sleeved on 10/15 and cannot wait for my new life to start....

Update: I am now day 6 post-op and having no issues with the clear liquid diet. Unlike before the surgery, it helps that I don't get hungry and that I'm sipping slowly all day. Seeing as I am unable to stomach the artificially sweetened Protein drinks it's probably a good thing I didn't do the pre-op diet, as it is I will have only 10 days of almost zero calorie intake rather than 24. I can't wait for the full liquid phase to begin

My surgery is on the 12th and I am doing the liquid diet as well, my scales at home say I've lost 6 pounds but the scales at my pre-op appt at the hospital this morning say 10! I'm going with those ; ) The liquid diet is not fun but will be worth it in the end I'm sure. Losing any amount of weight helps I'm sure, I mean if you went in for emergency gallbladder (sp?) suregry you wouldn't have been on a liquid diet and they still are able to operate. I think it is also to help prepare us mentally and emotionally as well...just my opinion. Good luck on your surgery, and your new journey!

I'm going through this right now. I posted on another forum and have copied and edited it a bit below and hope I can help anyone in preventing this. As far as your question, yes you can get the pouch back to normal but you and you only can make that happen. It's difficult, but, it can be done. If the pouch is really stretched badly they will un-fill you and place you on liquids for a period of time. My doctor told me 6 weeks of liquids. Holy smokes!!! Here is my post from another thread: Under floroscopy my doctor told me that my pouch was bigger than it should be. She told me that I would get a warning this time, but if next checkup showed the same, she will un-fill me and I will go on liquids for 6 weeks. For now I have been instructed to measure my portions. I did get a slight fill, so, I'm thinking that I'm not that bad yet. I keep a loose band because my allergies and drainage cause the dreaded lapband cement on the pouch that is only dissolved by drinking lots of hot liquids and is very unpleasant, thus I have to be a bit more careful with my portions. I have decent restriction and my portions have been at least 1 cup of food and sometimes 1.5 cups, however, I got into the habit of not chewing well and eating too fast. I rarely got stuck because of my loose band. In my opinion, not chewing well and eating too fast is what caused the dialation. I was also doing way too much exercise and was feeling more hunger and I would eat way to fast and not chew well with the hunger I felt at times. Someone asked about symptoms. First of all my weight loss stopped for months. My weight would go up and down by 6 lbs. and went on like this for at least 8 months. I tried increasing calories, longer work outs etc. etc. and nothing! My biggest symptom was more hunger in between meals and was getting hungry every 2-3 hours. The most obvious symptom that I should have never ignored was feeling satisfied (full) and would get that uncomfortable feeling of "no more" at meal time then all of sudden I would feel a thump in my pouch, due to food going thru quickly, then I could eat another meal if I chose to and honestly sometimes I would. I thought this was because I needed a fill, however, this was not the case and Doc said that a enlarged pouch of course holds more food and will push everything down quickly. Since being warned I have gone on liquids 2 times consisting of 4 days of Protein drinks and 1 can of Soup a day. In addition, I have modified my drinking and wait 1/2 hour before a meal and 1/2 hour after a meal. I now feel a huge amount of restriction and can only handle the 1/2 cup of food at mealtime. So, yes you can reverse the stretched pouch. I will continue to do the liquid thing at least every other week for a while just to be on the safe side. Since doing this I have lost 10 lbs. Lesson learned? If something doesn't feel right get it checked. I knew something was wrong, but, I was embarrassed to see the doctor because I had not reached goal. I think the biggest disappointment is first myself and second, being banded is high maintenance, but, we are the culprit to our own complications in most cases. I still love my band though! Hope this helps anyone who may be experiencing some of my symptoms and have ignored them. jake

I went self pay actually, I was sleeved on 9/15/10... so I won't be doing any more research on this. Sorry!

My top 10 reasons (in no certain order): 1. I just want to "feel better". Tired of high blood pressure, having no energy and toting around all this extra weight. 2. Be able to work out at the gym without my knees hurting so bad and everyone staring at me. 3. I want to take a "Zumba" class. 4. I want to sit on the floor and play with my grandchildren. 5. I want to have a normal sexual relationship with my husband. 6. I want to be able to wear a bathing suit and go down a "waterslide". 7. I want to be able to buy clothes that look nice on me without having to pay a fortune. 8. I want to lose the fear that when I die I will not fit in my casket and have to be buried in a piano case. 9. To be able to wear something pretty as "Mother of the Groom" when my son's get married. 10. To be part of society instead of being ignored or made fun of by those who don't understand that in God's eyes we are all the same - someday we will ALL have perfect wings.

10. I don't want to have heart disease. 9. I don't want High Blood Pressure. 8. I want my children to say hey that's my mom, not ask me to pick them up from school around back. 7. I want to look good in cloths again. 6. I want to ride my horses and not feel sorry for them having to carry all my weight around. 5. I want to be able to breathe again. 4. I want to not sweat walking into work. 3. I want to look professional again. 2. I want to feel about me, like my husband feels about me. 1. I would like to not feel this...... When I walk through the Mall with my 6'3" tall, very well built, hansom, cowboy husband, (here in Texas, the perfect man) and great looking women look at us and wonder how I got this man to be with me. Vain of me, no. It just hurts.[/font]

First and foremost, Happy Friday! When I started this journey at 6'4" 380 lbs I never thought I'd get approved and just kind of went through the paces. When I learned about the 3 mo waiting period I figured it would be a good time to just endulge on everything I would potentially be giving up in the future. Month one I gained almost 10 lbs. I realized how stupid this was and that I'm doing it for all the wrong reasons! So, 4th of July I lit a fire under my a** and said that I WILL lose 20 lbs by my Pre-op shake diet (hoping to lose another 10 on the 14 day plan). Well I don't start the Pre-op for another 30 days and today I weighed 349! Now I have readjusted my goals to lose 50lbs by my surgery date. I can't believe how easy it was to lose 30lbs in two months when you have the right motivation! So here I go on part two of this, 10 lbs in the next month then 5-10 lbs on 14 day Pre-Op!!!!

How long did you guys wait to exercise? I'm almost 5 weeks out and my Doc cleared me to exercise at 2 weeks out but my incision is an open hole and leaking constantly so I'm nervous to workout and make it worse. I'm trying to let it heal but I want to work out to help weight loss. I've only lost 11lbs since surgery on August 19.

My children are 10 and 16 .. i told them I was having this done and why. I answered all the questions that they had. And addressed their concerns. Which by the way weren't many I tell them many times a day I love them ( yes even the sixteen year old, though if she cares or not is a different story). They know they are loved no matter what the day brings.

Hi~ I will be sleeved March 19 and I was wondering what did you say to your children prior to surgery? I know most of us are nervous wrecks prior to any surgery and one of the biggest worries is *God forbid something happens, what is the last thing I say to my kids...besides I love you? * I've had quite a few surgeries in my past (lapband, plastic surg) and always give them a big loving see you later but now they are older 25 yo (which I got under control she understands). My 12 & 13 yr old daughter don't know I'm having the surgery YET. I really don't want them thinking/worrying about it now since its 2 months away. I just want to them to understand that i need this and not to think I'm selfish. What did you say?? Even as far as God forbid these were your last words? Am I the only nut that worries about this??

Woow i swear i thought i was the only one going through this roadblock smh my surgery was also 8/4/15 and ive lost only 19 lbs. im like something aint right? Did my surgeon perform the surgery correctly? Lol its soo aggravating when i see other people a month in and theyve lost almost 40-60 lbs what the heck. I thought for sure i would have been one of those people. Worse part is i feel exactly the same ughh. 1 more week until i can get in the gym im soo ready for this weight to just start melting off. When will this "plateu" go away?? Ugh