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Hello everyone my name is Ellie and I am about to get a sleeve on September 29! This was all very sudden and unexpected unlike some folks who have researched this for many years and gone through a long qualifying process, I have stumbled onto this procedure through a very roundabout way and in a matter of weeks I was approved. I am 37 years old and I weigh 270lbs at 5.8", I am hypothyroidic, I have sleep apnea and I'm prediabetic at this time. A Little history: In 2007 I weighed 273 pounds! I had mild sleep apnea but aside from that I was relatively healthy. I had the Lap band procedure done mostly because I did not like the way I looked. But the band yielded very little results, despite 13 fills and unfills to adjust, I never achieved an ideal restriction and was always hungry the weight that I did lose was because I was starving and working out and then I plateaued at about 245 pounds. Then I got pregnant in 2009 I decided to take all liquid out of the band (complete unfill) so that I could eat tons of vegetables and fruits. Funnily enough during the pregnancy and the one that followed I actually lost weight!? I guess something to do with the baby and the restriction I felt because the baby was pushing against the the band. At birth I was 214lbs. But as soon as my children came out in 2010 and 2013, even as I breast-fed, I was completely ravenous and the pounds returned at an alarming rate. So I have found myself right back to where I started at 270 pounds. Only this time mother nature has not been so kind... I am prediabetic and my sleep apnea has returned with a vengeance! On a day to day bases I ache and hurt like an old rickety roller coaster! I feel like I am walking through Jell-O all the time everything has just slowed down. Even so, being busy with a three-year-old and a five-year-old and being a full-time working mom I put myself in last place and have not focused much on trying to lose the weight. It's basically been, whatever I need to do to make it to the next day! I have ignored the aching that my body feels on a day-to-day basis and how hard it has become living and getting around at this weight. I have ignored the emotional and social impact of my weight, or maybe ignored is not the best word, more like drowned out with more food. And I experience some of what most mothers will relate to, I don't want to be in pictures with my children because I feel like I ruin the pictures with my presence. But even all this did not bring me to a decision to refill my lapband or do anything about it until a few weeks ago... In unrelated events I twisted funnily and managed to cause harm to my port. I was in severe pain like having stitches after running but the pain never went away. So due to that event, I finally went back to see my bariatric surgeon and upon further examination I was told that my port had ripped out of my muscles and was now flipped. Great! It was then that my surgeon told me that my options were to repair the port and try the band again or do something different. He recommended I try the sleeve because if I was initially unsuccessful with the band chances of me being successful the second time around were slim to none. I had heard about the sleeve before but never really in-depth. I also have gallstones and have had two attacks which I feel is not enough to warrant surgery but my surgeons seem to think differently. They say the gallbladder wall has thickened and that it is a matter of if and not when I will need to have it removed I hate surgery I do terrible with general anesthesia it takes me hours and hours of tortured nauseated foggy horrible sickness and pain to come out of it. And there is nothing I want more than to avoid having to go through another surgery. However My surgeon sent me to other surgeon who specializes in lap band revision who said he could perform all three surgeries at one time!! He would take out the Lapband remove my gallbladder and perform the gastric sleeve. And we are close to maxing out our yearly insurance maximum out of pocket, so if approved these procedures will be completely at no cost to me!! If I have to go under the knife anyways, I reason, I might as well get as much stuff done at one time, so that I don't have to go under the knife several times. I have not had too much time to do research on the sleeve or get emotionally prepared for the journey ahead but I have spent the past few weeks ferociously researching and ferociously reading up on it and doing a lot of soul-searching realizing that given my Freewill to eat, I am killing myself by being morbidly obese. My doctor submitted the proposal for surgeries to my insurance and I prepared for a long wait. However a week later I found myself getting approved by my insurance and my doctors office saying September 29 is available so start your diet now!! WOA????? No time for food funerals, no time for that last binge, no time to take a cruise which I love to do because of all the deliciousness, and no time to deliberate too long. I do have an option of doing it at the next available date in November but that would be very close to holidays and who knows what other circumstances could arise to prevent me from having the surgery at that time. It seems like all the factors have aligned together perfectly... my job is willing to let me go for that period of time the surgery will cost me nothing I can do three in one surgeries and I can have it relatively soon so that I don't have an agonizing time to wait and stress about it. It's like it's now or never. Most reviews I've read have people saying they wish they had done it sooner. I have already started my pre-op diet which means I would've only been on it for 10 days versus 12 like most people. And unlike most people rather than being on full liquids I have been placed on a South Beach supercharged phase 1 diet that includes lean meats, low-fat dairy and vegetables. I am finally wrapping my brain around what is about to take place mentally emotionally and physically. I have stocked up on many things and thanks to all you wonderful sharing caring people that have taken time to share your journey I have had a chance to very quickly catch up on all the information that I will need to be successful. But I'm so scared and so nervous not even about the liquid diet following surgery , (although, my coworker who got the sleeve weeks ago says that she is hungry all the time), or anything like that but of the surgery itself of being under Anastasia, of the pain I will feel when I wake up, and I wonder if I will miss the stomach that God gave me with which I was born...I'm sure all these things have crossed your mind too. And because my Lapband failed I fear that if this procedure does not work for me and I shall be that one anomaly for whom this did not work, there is not much else to be done. And since this is so life altering and Permanent, I don't know where to go from there if it does not work out for me. I know...I know...not thoughts I should be thinking .., but I'm being candid and sharing from the deepest parts of my heart the secret fears that I have, I would never admit to anyone. Any words of encouragement advice, solidarity, anything will be so very much appreciated at this time! Like many of you my weight loss journey is a very personal and private one and I don't have much support from the few friends with whom I have shared this information. I am sorry this has been long, but the welcome letter encouraged that we share details about our experience and I hope that Sharing this much will give you a more in-depth insight into my personal journey struggles and fears. Sending you blessings and green lights, Ellie

Well, I made it through my first shift back at work. But I have to say, I was BEAT this morning! Thankfully, it wasn't a hughly busy shift, so I could pace myself, sip on my water all night, got to take a break, etc. Some nights it is so crazy that even a bathroom break is out of the question (sorry, TMI!). Only problem was, I was way to beat to swim with my roommate this morning before going to bed. I got home and told her, "sorry, I am headed straight to bed!" And I slept like I had died. So now it is back to work again tonight and tomorrow, and then I have a couple of nights off, which will be nice. When I got home this morning, I made my usual "Pit stop" at the scale on my way to bed, and was disappointed to see that I weighed the same as yesterday morning. Sort of discouraging. I walked a lot last night at work, and thought that would help in the weight loss battle. But then I know that weight loss isn't always smooth and even. I was somewhat discouraged when I got to work last night. I had told two people at work (IN CONFIDENCE!) about the upcoming weight loss surgery, and when I got to work, it seemed like EVERYONE knew I had had the surgery, that I had gone to Mexico to have it, etc. I am not sure which one of my co-workers "spilled the beans", but am sort of upset that one or both of them would tell something that I had told them in confidence, and asked them NOT to tell anyone about! I am a contract worker, and did this between contracts, so it isn't like I had to inform administration or HR about the surgery. For all they knew, I was just taking some time off between contracts. I had tons of "unsolicited" advise last night, about my diet, my weight loss, my vitamin intake, etc. There are three gals at work who have had various bariatric procedures (not sure what exact procedure) and one of them came to me to tell me how it was "the worst thing she had ever done in her life!" Now why would she tell me that? I am working hard to make a success of my surgery and post-op experience, and she tells me about her infections, her subsequent surgeries needed to "fix what the weight loss surgery did to me", etc! I mean, how depressing. I guess some people just can't let someone else be happy that things are going right! Oh well, enough complaining. Have to start getting ready for work. Hope all you pre and post op Sleevers are doing well. Talk at you more later............

I'd only go with a board certified general surgeon if they don't have much experience with the sleeve. Other surgeons do gastrectomies after all but would have to board certified for me, preferably in bariatric surgery. Someone just out of residency not likely board certified. Glad you discovered other place does sleeves. They've only been done for about five years as you probably know so place may have just recently started doing them hence not on their website.

A new bariatric program would make me very nervous. Our local hospital had one for a short time and there were problems, one of them was my coworker. She had a RNY, there was a leak and she had a second surgery the next day. The program didn't last long. My surgeon is a general/bariatric surgeon and he has done tons of RNY's and the more complicated DS and also the sleeve. He is a perfectionist and his bedside manner is not the greatest, but he gave me a PERFECT sleeve with almost 0 pain and 0 issues. He is a no nonsense type of doctor, but when I engage him in conversation he will talk forever. He had done around 100 sleeves when he did mine. I chose him and the hospital he practices at because the hospital has had a bariatric dept for over 30 years and is a Center of Excellence. There's nothing like experience and a GREAT track record when you're having major surgery. Check with your insuance to see what other hospitals are in your network. The one I chose is about 25 miles from my home. I pray that all goes well for you!

ill be using the bariatric advantage. did you have a hard time? i know it will be a lot of work. but im hoping i wont have too much pain :/ hoping!

I was about to ask how in the world you got WC to pay for bariatric surgery to begin with, but then re-read what you wrote and now I get it. That's an interesting scenario, and I can definitely see why they'd fight having to pay for a sleeve, but I can also tell you that, having worked at the WC center for General Motors at one time, probably 95% of all lawsuits brought against the company by the employee are won, and that includes completely ridiculous ones like "I can't work because I'm an alcoholic because my job made me that way," or "I can't work because of the mental problems caused by my job..." yeah, totally serious. I'd say if the job caused removal of the band, and now you can't have another band, you'd stand an excellent chance of having your WC pay for a sleeve, maybe even without much threat from a lawyer (although you may still have to initiate that process). Hmmmm, interesting. Keep us updated!

I was reading some research that concludes that after 300 surgeries the risk of complications directly related to the surgery (leaks, perforations, too small or too large, etc) and errors reduces to almost none. According to the research, after 500 surgeries, there is no diference between those with 500 and those with 2000+ surgeries in therms of complications and errors. This is what I like about the certified bariatric surgeons in Mexico, they are doing 2-4 surgeries per day.

There are two facilites that offer Bariatric Surgery in my town (Tulsa, OK), and only one of them offers the sleeve. I went to the info session for that one last night, and came away with questions. This was at one of the three major hospitals here (St. Johns), and they have just started a Bariatric Services and Weight Loss Center there. The program (staff, doctors, facilities, etc) are all brand new. In fact, this appeared to be the first info session they had put on (they were asking things that seemed to point to that, i.e. things that could better the session in the future). Also, the surgeon (they only have one at this time) is just out of residency, and appears to have specialized in RNY surgery (he said this is what he had done the most of). I really want to get the sleeve, and this is the only place that has it. The other place is not even officially affilliated with a hospital (though they use one of the other major hospitals in town). Do you think its safe to go with a new program and a young surgeon? It has me a little nervous, but I want the sleeve so I cant decide whether to stick with it. PS, the other place offers the band and RNY, but no sleeve. Thanks in advance!

Andrea, I understand you may have to travel, but I'd consider finding another surgeon. If your surgeon needs proctor, it MIGHT be that he hasn't placed the new AP band and he needs a proctor to go over placement with him (it's a little different), but it most likely is because he isn't certified by Allergan/Inamed yet, period. And that's okay, he's not necessarily incompetent, he's may just be brand new to banding. He may have done tons of various laparascopic procedures and maybe has done hundreds of bypasses, but he likely hasn't done many bands. But that's a consideration. Given the history of his pushing and pushing you to have bypass done, I'm leaning toward him not having done many bands. Do you want to be someone's first or second band ever? I *might* if I was comfortable and confident with the surgeon when I interviewed him. Based on what you've told us of your conversations with him, I would NOT be comfortable with his confidence in his own abilities or his own willingness to learn and try the latest advancements. Seriously, GO FIND ANOTHER SURGEON. I know you have kids, many of us do. I understand you may work, many of us do, I know it must be hard to arrange, but Andrea, this is your body and your new life you are dealing with here. Find a day or two that you can set aside to travel to an appt. Really think about this, please. From what I understand being Allergan/Inamed (Allergan is the newer name) certified to place the band is not state by state. It's one time. You can call Allergan and ask them if your surgeon is certified. The website is lapband.com and you should be able to find a link to look him up. What is his name, BTW? You can look him up on obesityhelp.com and on tha American Society of Bariatric Surgeons (asbs.org) to see if he's a member. Please do these things, or PM me the name or post it here and we'll see what we can find out about him to see how much experience he has.

Garden State Bariatric, Dr. Y, I am down the shore. The dr. Is in TR.

Hi everyone! I’m already on my pre-op low carb, high protein diet but don’t yet have a date. I’ve done my bloodwork, met the surgeon, EKG, dietician consult, psych consult, financing (I have no comorbidities -yet- so insurance won’t budge) I’m 40 years old, 42 BMI and crazy ready. I’ve completed the sleep study and will get my results tomorrow so here’s hoping no apnea, but if I do have to get a cpap the doc said he thinks a few days with the cpap will suffice for him to write his recommendation for the go ahead for surgery! (He’s a bariatric surgery success story himself and I work in the medical field so he’s willing to clear me more quickly than the norm.) I’m getting the VSG along with hernia repair and a couple other tweaks my awesome surgeon is willing to do. I find this whole process is like that line from When Harry Met Sally, modified and paraphrased-when you find the thing you want to do with the rest of your life, you want the rest of your life to start right away! I’m hoping for a late October surgery date. I am instructed by the surgeon to take 4 weeks off and the only time I can do that is the month of Novemeber, so the sooner the surgery the better. I’ve started stockpiling bone broth (high in protein!) from sales and am studying my new instapot to figure out how to make supersoft soups and such. I got tiny bowls and utensils and have been doing a lot of reading and YouTube lurking. Im excited to find others who are just about to change their lives too! We will look much different in 6 months time!

I use PURE unflavored whey protein isolate from Bariatric Eating.

I have lupus, and had serious post-surgical blood clots many years ago. If your surgeon knows about your disorder, he/she will take extra care and will give you meds to prevent clotting during and after surgery. I received anti-clotting injections while in the hospital - as did most of the other bariatric surgery patients. And, of course, I did lots and lots of walking as soon as I could... because exercising those leg muscles is one of the best things you can do to prevent a blood clot.

I see a lot of threads where people talk about a drain as part of their surgery. I didn't have a drain. Can someone explain what the drain does? And why some bariatric surgeons don't think it is needed?

Ok seriously it sometimes takes having a 'come to Jesus meeting' with yourself... I've been there. For REAL. I had the regain. I had the 'I can eat everything just in small amounts' self talk. I had the people come up to me 2.5 years post VSG and ask me if I was pregnant!!! Now at 4.5 years post, I've lost my regain, lost even more and am getting ready (finally) for my skin surgery. For ME, it took an ugly health issue to get my act straight. It's different for everyone but you have GOT to find your "WHY". Once you do that, then you need to just get back to the VERY BASICS. attend some bariatric support groups. track your water, activity and intake. empty ALL the junk food out. start taking your own food to EVERYTHING so there is no temptation. Go back to your surgeon office. talk to them. seek out EVERY form of support you can find. attend an Overeaters Anonymous group in your area, or a Food Addicts meeting. Do WHATEVER it takes. Sadly, statistically the regain odds are not in our favor. Let's all prove those odds wrong.

That's my concern also. .only hubby, sisters, mom knows. .I want to keep it private. Not sure how to go about requesting time off. Hope to have wls by early next month. Did I guys take FMLA? I already know I will be talked about by friends and coworkers. Especially working with a bunch of nurses and we get bariatric patients in our department post op all the time..I already know they will say or think I'm not big enough (I weight 240lbs)..mind u they are all almost skinny & they complain all the time how big they are and they need to lose weight. ..smdh

I was in the same situation. I work in the PACU and I hear nasty judgmental comments about the bariatric patients so I chose to keep my mouth shut. I only took one week off (vacation). I had sleeve surgery at a different hospital. I've lost 77 lbs and I am 5 away from goal. Best decision I made was to tell just my husband, kids, brother and one close friend. That's it. I have found people, especially coworkers, will be nice and supportive to your face yet talk nasty behind your back. Screw them all. Now I hear them talk about how jealous they are at my weight loss. They really have no clue. Jokes on them! LOL!

Good luck, all -- spring is a great time for renewal. I was banded last November and I am very happy with how things are going. I expected it to be all about the weight, but it's also just such a relief not to be fighting my appetite all the time, obsessing about food, etc. That's a wonderful thing -- out of food jail at last!

I have the lapband and at just about 4 months out I have lost 50 % of what I need to lose , do what you think is best for you , I think success is individual and you get what you put in regardless of what kind of bariatric procedure

EXTREMELY UPSET! I started all my paperwork and testing in May. I was told my surgery would be in August. I received a phone call that the psychiatrist had not cleared me. I had three counsel sessions with a counselor prior to the appointment with this psychiatrist. I've made several phone calls to see exactly how many more counsel sessions he wants me to have. He does not return my phone calls. I can't switch to a new psychiatrist because it is not allow with the bariatric program I'm involved in. I doubt my insurance would pay again. I go to two support Bariatric meetings twice a month. I'm involved in three bariatric online groups, my best friend went through the procedure years ago but she's aware of what it is all about. I feel it is very unprofessional and disrespectful not to return my phone calls. I have called him because the bariatric employees could not get him to return their calls either. I have called once a week since the first of September. Everything has been approved by the insurance company and everything I needed to do to prepare for surgery is done also. He's the only one messing me up. I'm very depressed over it. I thought I would be starting my new journey in August. Thanks for reading. Torrielynne I'm extremely upset. I'm doing this for me but I also have two daughters getting married in September and October of 2015.

I found a place that has what they call bariatric shakes. They have 15 grams of Protein in them. You mix the powder with Water and it tastes like flavored water. It is tasty after all the milk shakes. They come in a variety of flavors. The place also has chicken noodle Soup (the noodles amount to about t tsp--but the soup also has 15 grams of protein for 8 ounces. I use that as one of my drinks for the day.. I found the place online after reading many of these posts. I can't remember the name of it off hand, it is at home, but if you check out www.wonderslim.com you may find it

I think it really depends on the surgeon. I went with one of the top bariatric surgeons in Australia, hes the one who first started using a minimally invasive method to do the surgery in Australia and trained other surgeons to do it that way. My surgeon and dietitian said its highly recommended to stay on the fluids for three weeks unless you cant tolerate the shakes. The only shake flavour ive been able to tolerate since surgery is the coffee one, the other flavours made be very nauseous, and even then having more than one of the coffee shakes per day made me nauseous. Ive mostly been living on fluids the three weeks, except for the cottage cheese every couple days. According to studies, its safe from a surgical perspective to start on puree at 5 days post op, but you dont have to if you dont want to, you can simply stay on the fluids for the three weeks. My surgery came with a complete package of the surgeon, registered nurse, dietition/nurtitionist, counselling and the fresh start program so i trust my highly experienced team who im in regular contact with. I didnt spend two years researching surgeons to just go with someone who doesnt know what theyre doing, i went with my surgeon for a reason, that hes one of the best in Australia. Im also a registered nurse so i really knew what to look out for when finding the perfect surgeon for me. Ive known some people who do 2 weeks fluids, 2 weeks puree, 2 weeks soft and then normal diet. Some ive known do only a couple days of fluids then by day 3 or 4 theyre on puree and then 2 weeks post op on a soft diet. So it really depends on the surgeon your with and who actually keeps up to date with the current research. Personally i wouldnt have gone with a surgeon who said puree at 3 days post op then soft at 2 weeks!

My self-pay price quote from Southwest Bariatrics in Austin, Texas is $15,000 plus there could be miscellaneous fees depending on what insurance have. That includes all follow-ups/fills for one year. They give no discount for self-pay clients. My insurance does not cover the surgery but I can utilize my Employee Assistance Program for the pysch eval, and I can have my regular doctor perform the physical and blood work (because I need a physical for this year anyway). My exercise eval is $60 and I think my nutrition consult is $150. I called another place (I think a "lapband chain store" type) and they also quoted me $15,000 but first they asked in what town would I have the surgery. I asked if it would be cheaper to have it done in Houston and there was a loooooong pause and she very slowly said nooooooooo. :thumbdown: ...sure.

The paper i got from my doctors only had bariatric and another brand like it. And also i can eat 0sugar popsicles and 0sugar Jello, and chicken broth (tasted it hated it) and tomato soup:/ I dont like any of these. (other than the popsicles and jello but i cant live off of that) and i paid 105 for my bariatric meals so i have no choice sadly:/

Im not really sure if shes experienced with bariatric surgery. It took me alot of calling around and searching to find someone that seemed to know what they were talking about when it came to WLS and when I called her to make an appointment with her after I had already scheduled the appointment she said, "Oh wait wednesday.....im guna be at the other office wednesday.... well I have another dietician that works for me and she will be at that office will that be ok?" and me being stupid said sure. So The dietician I saw who was really nice maybe just dosnt have the experience that I had hoped for. As for losing too fast, definately not. Tomorrow is my 4 week post op mark and I might be at around a 15lb loss.