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Well Bella you are not the only one that has the what if's... But u know I will put it to u like this. What if u do loose the weight, and are able to do everything u have ever deamed of doing in life? What if u surpass your own expectation? Now playing the devil's advoicate...:tongue_smilie: what if u do eat to much? What if u don't loose the weight u really want to loose? What if others look at u as a failure? SO WHAT.. all u can do is dust your sholders off and start over and over and over until u get it right and start to see some positive changes. bottom line. Who cares what anyone says or thinks at this point. If you make your mind up that u want to do it for u... then u will.....:frown:

I had surgery 9/19. Close to six weeks post op..lost 39 lbs incl pre op diet. I worry about meeting someone in the future and having loose skin and being embarrassed to become intimate. I don't know how I will look when the weight really starts to drop but I am a bit worried about that.

What? Me? Really? Yes! It’s true—I’m back with a blog update. I’d love to give you some grand reason for my disappearing act, but the truth is just that life has just gone on. Being banded was a huge life altering experience and for many months it affected everything. In a way, it defined me, just as being fat has defined me for the past 20 or so years of my life. Being banded affected my daily routine—what I ate, how I moved, work, the gym, doctors appointments. And then slowly, it affected me less. Life went back to normal. I stopped feeling sore, I went back to the gym, I started being able to wrestle those big dogs I work with again, and I stopped agonizing over every morsel I put in my mouth. My band became a part of who I am and stopped being everything I am about. And as life went on without me having to stop and contemplate my band every other minute, I stopped having new and exciting things to say about it. That’s not to say that everything has gone back to the way it used to be, although my life is not yet as completely altered as many of my pre-band fantasies projected it to be. A lot has happened in my life both related and unrelated to my weight-loss journey. I believe last I left you guys, I was plagued with a big pain from a little kidney stone. Who knew something smaller than a pencil eraser could cause so much trouble? Well, in case you were wondering, the kidney stone did not pass on its own. After my trip to the hospital and the very happy drugs they pumped me with, my pain was gone. I followed up with an urologist anyhow and it was a good thing since he informed me that being pain free did not mean being urolith (big, fancy, medical word for a kidney stone) free. And low and behold, the night after my appointment, I had another bout of excruciating pain. The pain came and went for the rest of the week until my follow-up appointment at which point my doctor and I decided to schedule lithotripsy—a non-invasive surgical procedure used to break up kidney stones using shockwaves that pass through the body wall. Unfortunately the first available appointment for the procedure was not for another 2 1/2 weeks. The pain was sporadic in the mean time, and while I had some hefty pain meds, I was unable to use them at times—ie when at work. So, I used Ibuprofen instead—after all the PA at my docs office said it was okay given my situation as long as I took certain precautions. Well, I don’t think I took enough precautions, or I just took too much Ibuprofen because after a few days my stomach got all funky and I was sick for a good 2-3 days. I stopped the Motrin of course, and got better. Finally I went for my scheduled procedure and they took an x-ray to locate the stone, then hooked me up to an IV and knocked me out. I woke up shortly after and everything went smoothly. Of course the lithotripsy only broke the stone up to smaller pieces and didn’t get rid of it, so for another week and a half I waited for the stone to pass—with even more pain than before, as well as several bouts of nausea. At last, my stone was gone, and with it, the pain. In addition, I felt energetic and just plain good for the first time since it happened. I turned the stone in for analysis and did some extra urine tests and next week I return to my doc for the results as well as a discussion on nutrition to help prevent further stones. I’m a little worried about how that will go and how his nutrition advice will work with my band. Obviously drinking plenty of water is paramount for both my situations, but I have a feeling he’s going to tell me to cut back on my protein which will not bode will with band eating. He says he’s seen many bandsters getting kidney stones 3-4 months after surgery and on the one hand, that probably means he knows our nutrition restrictions, but on the other hand, it probably means the diet change helped in the formation of the stone. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see. Despite the passing of my kidney stone, I am—sadly—not yet a paragon of health. I’ve been having some trouble with my shoulder. At first I just suspected a pulled muscle or something, but given my kidney stone-ibuprofen snafu, could not treat it properly with anti-inflammatory meds like Mortrin. I finally sucked it up and got myself to the orthopod who examined me and took an x-ray. He said the x-ray looked pretty good, but he did see a small bone spur which probably caused some bursitis. Normally he would have just had me treat it with NSAIDS (if it was that easy, I wouldn’t have needed him) but instead he gave me a cortisone shot. Sadly, it didn’t work. He also gave me a prescription for physical therapy if it didn’t work. I think I’ll probably have to use it, but I’m going to try my sister’s acupuncturist first (I saw him once before and he actually predicted my kidney stone by feeling my pulse—well not a kidney stone exactly, but he told me the “kidney” part of my pulse was weak—how crazy is that?) Of course, I think I’m starting to sound like an 80 year old, going on and on about my health problems. I’ve been sicker since getting my band than I was before—how did that happen? In other—non-medical—news, in the end of August, I finally moved into my new place. Having my own refrigerator to stock with all my own food has been helpful. I pretty much live off rotisserie chicken. I’ll have a quarter of a store bought chicken, no skin and I’ll pair it with some fruit, or carrot sticks, or tonight, a small baked potato. Yum, yum. My lunches vary, sometimes I’ll have a lean cuisine, or I’ll have a salad from the salad bar down the street. My usual breakfast is either a protein bar, or if I get up early enough, a 100 calorie whole grain English muffin with 1 egg, 1 egg white, and piece of low fat cheese. I do still have snacks. I believe in eating when I’m hungry. I’ll usually go for either a yogurt, or a high protein snack bar—Slim fast makes a yummy caramel nougat one, and South Beach has a chocolate raspberry one I love. Like a bad girl, I have taken to drinking diet soda again, but only 2-3 times a week instead of 5-6 times a day like I used to and of course, plenty of water is still a must. I stalled with my weight-loss for a while, not because I didn’t have restriction, but because I was making bad choices and eating a lot of junk food again. So, I started going to Weight Watchers. The band helps me monitor how much I eat, and WW gives me the tools to help me make better choices. Having to figure out how many points everything is makes you stop and think before eating it. I only have so much room in my new little tummy pouch, and I need to make each bite count. That’s not to say I’ve given up all the good stuff—I still eat the foods I love…pizza, bagels, ice-cream, etc, but not on a regular basis. I really feel like I eat like a “normal” person now. I can eat a slice of pizza, without eating 3. I can have a turkey burger and leave half for the next meal. Anytime I order out, my food lasts a good 3 meals instead of finishing the whole thing and wanting more. It’s amazing how normal that is for me now. My loss is picking up again and I still have hopes of making my goal of losing 75# by my sisters wedding which is October 25. I’ve got to lose another 5 lbs and I’ve got 10 days to do it. Holly, this entry is getting long. I have more to say about how I’m feeling about the changes the last 6 months have made to my mind, body and soul, but I’m working on page three of this thing now, so I’m going to cut it here, and save the rest for another entry. Here’s to not letting another 3 months go by before that happens Tootles.

Less than 4 hours til I go in... I'm still up, not tired, not anxious, not scared, just have lots to do before I go in since I know I'll be down most of tomorrow and Sat. Finishing up cleaning and doing some laundry. More I do now, less I'll have to do after. I should have cleaned my room this week but I didn't was busy with other things.. If I have time I'll get to it before I go.. Well whatever I can do for the next 2 hours.. I gotta shower at 5 or 5:30, then prayer conference call from 6-7.. by the time I'm off the call I'll be at the surgery center. So umm yeah. I keep feeling like there's something I'm forgetting, but there's not. CPAP machine that I've never used (Check in box still) Medicines (Check) Loose fitting clothes (check) Lipgloss (Check) I should have got a pedicure.. I need a pedicure, I've been putting it off.. UGH.. I could do the paint over, but that's just tacky...sigh Ok Kitchen clean, office clean, living room working on it, guest bathroom done, just my room, bathroom and the rest of the living room to finish. WOO HOO.. Then shower and be ready to go. I wonder why I didn't get any "pre-surgery" don'ts as far as like lotion, etc... I have coconut oil in my hair...it's not going anywhere... I've already used a gas x-strip... I think my body doesn't know what to do with itself, gas in my chest, I guess from that "Whey Up" energy drink... If you haven't tried them you should 20gms of protein low sugar no carb. If you can drink a 5 hour energy drink, you can drink this, tastes about the same to me. Let's see whatelse... I guess that's all for now.. going in.. see you on the other side. I'll be praying and confessing over myself until it happens. I confess that all goes well, that I come out of surgery without incident. That I experience rapid recovery and healing with no sickness and great success, in Jesus name... Ok let me go be productive. I'm sure I'll be back later to fill you all in or document it for myself here in my blog.

How much are you suppose to loose in a month? I've kinda plateau but.. im starting to drop again, and i just wanted to know an average weight loss a month.. (if you are working out hard)

So glad this became a forum : I was banded April 2 an my port is doing the exact same thing as I loose so so glad I'm not alone an this is normal

I honestly don't mind losing slow ! As long as I lose, I've heard if you lose slow you will have less excess skin.

Keep your chin up. People just want something to talk about. Most of them have nothing better to do than to critique others. Regarding people commenting on what you are eating. They are just miserable in their own skin, so they make themselves feel better by degrading other. I am going through all the labs and etc right now, but wont be banded until late october due to my insurance. My co workers(nurses) know I am having this done and they are very supportive to my face anyway.However, its just really none of their business and I am having it done while on a vacation. They don't know when the true date is....have a great day and remember "you are only as inferior as you allow people to make you feel"....

My doc says he uses a 34fr bougie, loose. On the fairly small side of things, right? At lunch I was able to eat a 5 oz can of canned chicken breast (pureed with low fat mayo and the broth from the can) and 2 oz of fat free cottage cheese. That is 7 oz of food. No pain whatsoever. Is that normal? I initially served myself about half of the chicken, but after finishing it and the cottage cheese, still felt hungry. So I started on the remaining and finished it. Incidentally, this was done in about....20 minutes? Did I just eat too fast? But wouldn't I have felt pain? Have I f'ed up my sleeve? Can people further down the line speak to the volume of soft foods they were able to eat at this point? I wasn't worried about the fact that I could have quite a volume of liquid without a problem, since it just kind of goes right through, but i would have assumed chicken, even pureed, and cottage cheese, would fill up the sleeve.

I'm almost 3 months out. I have a nectar fuzzy navel protein drink when I first wake up. I try to eat a protein rich breakfast (maybe a 1 egg omelet, 1/2 slice 2% cheese and some mushrooms and a slice of ham diced). For lunch I try to eat something high in protein, such as tuna or chicken salad made with low fat mayo. For dinner, I have sauteed veggies and chicken or fish normally. And a protein drink afterwards. .... I am averaging around 600 calories. I need to up that but it's not as easy as I once thought. I'm loosing at a very steady pace and excercizing daily. I log everything on MyFitnessPal which seems to keep me accountable. ................ best of luck! DRINK DRINK DRINK and get your protein in!!!

Hi guys. Guess I'll start by introducing myself. I'm a norwegian male, 39 years old, married, father of two kids, and are working as a Engineering manager in the oil industry here on the west coast of Norway. I'm one and a half week away from undergoing gastric bypass, and are in the final pre op diet. So far I have lost 13 kg since i started the diet, and needed to loose 7,5 kg so are in good shape. So how did I end up here?. I have always been heavy set, and spent my teens and early 20 playing ice hockey, power lifting and martial art. I went to serve in the Norwegian army, and served for three years, before I went to college studying engineering. I was used to eat large portions , but kept the kilos away, due to the simple fact that worked my ass of as a soldier. That kinda changed when i started studying for twelve hours a day. Then the kilos crept on, and they haven't left me since. I steadily gained weight. I tried everything to loose the weight. Low carb diet, calorie counting, nutrition shakes, you name it, I've tried it. Lost weight but it came back, plus interest. So a couple of years ago, I got diabetes 2. That was the last drop. I realised that i needed, help, and went to my primary physician. He agreed that Gastric bypass would be the best solution for me, and referred me to the hospital for evaluation. The whole process took about a year, and I'm as I said one and a half week away from my surgery. 21 of oct is the date.

I will be three months post opt on Oct 4. I have no regrets about the surgery. I feel awesome! I have been honest and shared with those around me that I had gastric sleeve. Initially, when I told people they were more hesitant that I was going to Mexico for the surgery than actually having the surgery. I prayed about every aspect of having the surgery, going to Mexico and family support. God is so awesome! My surgery was complete in 38 minutes. Within a few hrs post opt I was up walking around- talking with others in the hall- eating ice chips and no PAIN!! I asked my husband if he was sure that I had really had surgery other than my incisions - I felt great! I thank God for a supportive husband and finding a great surgeon to help me loose the weight that I have battled with all of my life. As time approaches you may feel more nervous- I did. But the morning of my surgery- I woke with a great peace within and ready to begin a new life fully trusting that my God was with me through it all!!! And HE still is!!! Sending prayers your way!! Michelle

I was 150lbs overweight.. I carry most my weight upper body. My stomach was pretty huge before I started, it's shrinking now, but I can't decide if the last of the rolls I see is skin or still weight I'm going to lose. It is all puckered and weird looking, but.. I don't see me getting plastic surgery for it at this point. I can easily tuck it under my underwear/pants, and I don't feel I have to show my belly to anyone. I do plan to have kids too, so if I do decide on it, it's still years away post-children. If I don't look majorly deformed or have a large pannic hanging down (and it looks like I won't, I think it would have formed by now), I won't be getting a TT.

I wouldn't get the TT until after you have all the children you want to have! That is my own personal opinion though. My luck I'd get a TT and be "FINE" then get pregnant and ruin the beautiful body. Before I got pregnant I was in a size 16 pants at 209lbs. After I had my baby I am down to 206lbs and in a size 18 pants. It seems like you loose your once "normal" shape and your body changes. Keep in mind though I am not an expert on this it is just my personal experience and opinion.

I love the kosher dills -they have always helped me with sweet cravings at night. I eat a spear and no longer want sweets. I have heard that the skin on fruits and vegetables give lots of people problems - not everyone of course. I am ADDICTED to red seedless grapes and I keep reading "no grapes". Maybe I will be able to eat them down the road - if not.... that's ok too. Nothing tastes as good as being healthy feels... right? Thank you all for answering my strange question!!!!

Exactly a year ago I had the sleeve done, and today marks my 45 kg total loss. I never thought i would ever come close to the number i now see when i stand on the scale "59 kg" last time i was that weight i was in elementary school! The surgery was the best decision i have made in my life, people always told me weight doesnt matter thin or fat big or small it wont change who you are. Well it did, first with my confidence. I learned to embrace how i look now, i became more comfortable in my skin which is something i failed to do in past years. I don't try as hard as i used to to fit in, i don't seek peoples acceptance of me. And on a physical health level, i don't take half of the medicine i used to take when i was obese, i can be more active i have so much energy to anything i put my mind to. Even if i don't look the way i imagined myself to. I still love where i am and how far i came. My stomach doesn't look perfect, but im so grateful for it. My arms flap, but its only a small price to pay for your mental and physical health. If you're struggling in anyway or if you're second thinking the surgery, just know that you're the one that can make it work. Set your eyes on the end goal and you will defiantly get there. Its not easy, at all! It takes commitment and patience. The road can be long and hard, but in the end it will all be worth it all! This is how I am feeling after losing 100+ lbs and i hope you all have a successful weight loss journey!

I love pickles too! I am able to eat them without any problems. I usually don't eat the outter skin for fear of getting it stuck. I learned pretty quickly what I could swallow and what I couldn't. Things that don't break down easily are more likely to get stuck. By break down I mean get mushy after chewing....like pineapple, apple skin, etc. If I really want some pineapple I will usually chew it until all of the flavor is gone and then spit out whatever I can't swallow (sounds weird, I know.) At least that way I don't feel deprived of certain foods.

Also I have hit a plateau but don't want to get a fill because we are trying to have a baby and my doc is aware of this. I have beefed up my exercise significantly and am training 3-5 times a week 45 minutes a day to keep losing but my weight hasn't budged. I am not gaining which is a win but I am not loosing either. Could this have anything to do with my stuck episodes and not getting the food in? Or pbing after the stuck episode?

You are right! Just do it, one day at a time. Measure, weight, whatever you need. Speak to your Surgeon, maybe you need a fill. But all in all, you HAVE lost weight. EVERYONE is different and they loose at different rates. The weather turned cold and I had put off my walks. Now my butt sags down to my knees. So what do I need to do, JUST DO IT. Today, maybe I will by legwarmers to keep my knees warm and I am going to go out! Thank you for KICKING MY BUTT TOO!!!!!

I knw my scrubs are getting so loose too maybe we should start scrub swap site on here. Ha

Hi all! I was banded 11/12/12. -45 lbs. no complications thus far but right around my port my skin is making a circular indent in my skin. Its not apparent lying down just when standing or sitting. Please! Does anyone know what this could mean!?

Oh, that wait would kiiiiiiillllll me, lol. But - like you say, that's what you get when you want the best. Think about it like this, that last 3 pounds will go, some more could even go in that time, you have some time perhaps to do a bit of a fitness blitz, get those abdominals in superb shape, really do everything you can to maximise the result AND your skin will have had some chance to snap back to what extent its going to.

Count me in this club as well! I was so weak and could hardly walk up until the morning of Day 14 when I woke up and felt somewhat (and I use that term loosely) human again. I had a very difficult time getting through the recovery from this surgery - more so than any other surgeries that I have had. This one was totally grueling. But it does get better and you will be so happy that you did this. Tomorrow is 9 weeks for me and I am in a whole different place than I was during the first 4 weeks!

Hi .... Regarding warantee ..that was on of my concerns as well and also just general support. I called the weight managaement clinic and they said if you have the band put in somwhere else they will do the fills and take it out in an emrgency ,but as far as anything else ...slippage ,erosion, or needing the port replaced they would NOT do. I then calld Dr K and his nurse said she did not know what he would do if you needed anything replaced as it had never happened. ( I think that means you would have to pay again!). So with what Andrew said about the tax deductuion and a little bit back from AHC i think it is about 2500.00-3000.00 more to go to Dr Cobourn which I think is the way I am leaning THis board is amazing everyone is so supportive and knowledgable ... Thank you all...........I will be making my decision this weekend and hope to have everything in place to get the surgery before the new year, scary but exciting as well. I have tried and failed to loose and keep weight off for most of my adult life .....this is my last kick at the cat, so to speak and you are all so inspiring . It is hard to committ to spending this much money when you have failed so often .........................

I didn’t pay anything. I got a lot of letters from different specialists. Not even co pays or the nutritionist or psychological exam. It only took a month from 1st appt to surgery being scheduled but it was rescheduled a month later bc non essential so it’s on 8th. I did the 14 day liquid died twice. I just hope he will get the plastic surgeon he works with to put rashes, infections etc for help with skin as I can’t afford that I don’t think.