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You go!! You look beautiful???? I am 42 with several medical issues myself. Asthma, sickle cell, diabetic, high blood pressure, end stage kidney disease, and i am legally blind. I am 8 weeks post-op from my gastric bypass. I had no pain, went home the next day, and lost 44lbs in 7 weeks. My doctor felt i lost too much to fast and put me on a regular diet. I still can not eat the amount of food the dr and nut is asking for. I only take in about 400cal. I continue to drink my protein shakes. At my heaviest i was 398lbs. August 5th 2014 i was 239, surgery August 12th 2014 i was 229, today October 13th 2014, i am 195lbs. I cant remember being this small any time in my adult life.???? Congrats on your decision to lose the weight, no matter at what age you may be.....you look GREAT!!

I've also had two friends that did the Gastric Bypass. The best advice...don't hop on that scale too often. Your body has been used to eating and receiving calories a certain way. It's going to fight to keep your weight because your body will naturally try to regulate itself. so don't sweat the scale too much. Instead focus on how your clothes are fitting you. I had my surgery in December and what I notice is that I'll drop weight and level off then it starts again. I visit my scale about every two weeks. I've dropped from a 26/28 to an 18/20 and I'm sure I'm about to dip further. I love to cook and I love good food. I don't substitute the real stuff, such as sugar. But I will, when I can add tofu for Protein, rice paper for flour tortillas and sandwich thins by Oroweat for bread. And stay away from carbonated drinks, it took me a good two months before the carb and soda cravings stopped. Good Luck

Here is the order we are going for the surgery at this hospital... (and bypass/sleeve patients follow this also) Initial Class (seminar) with the surgeon Second class with the coordinator Nutrition class (Post op and after care dietary life changes) Mandatory "support group" nutrition class (general) nutrition class (pt 2 of the general nut' class) back to the coordinator Psych eval Back to the coordinator again for final nod or to be told try again Meet and greet one and one with surgeon to make pre-op appts (tests paperwork etc) and to make the surgical date!! Pre-op check in (blood work, etc) Surgery!

So I have been told that I have to have surgery prior to getting another surgery. I have never considered WLS in the past because I have always been able to keep my weight down with diet and exercise.....until I had a colon resection that I have yet to heal from. The last year has been a painful reminder that I am getting older and unable to recover like I used to. Because of my colon resection, I am unable to get the bypass surgery so my only option is the sleeve. I hope that it will be enough of a tool to help me lose this weight so I can get my second surgery done and on with my life. I have a four month wait period because my insurance still says that this is an elective regardless of the fact that my doctors (I have seen 4 different doctors and have been told the same thing) say that it is medically necessary. Next week I go in for my psych examine and to finally see my nutritionist, as well as have a ton of blood work done, a chest x-ray and something to do with my heart. I have tried to look at this as a plus, as it will help me lose some weight that I have been unable to lose as I have grown older. But at the same time, it is an extreme response to a problem that was created by another problem. I am not given any other options so I have no choice but to accept the diagnosis and move on. If anybody has any insight, I would appreciate it.

I discovered this site when I was trying to find other people like me, who are converting from the lap band to the sleeve. I was amazed to learn just how many of "us" there are! For so long I felt like a failure, and that I just didn't work hard enough, or that I just never learned how to use my tool. I got my lap band November 1st, 2010, and lost 17 pounds during the 2-week pre-op stage, and then another 5-10 pounds the first week post-op. But from there, I really had to work hard to lose anymore weight. I was going to the gym at least 3x per week, I was careful to follow all the rules about not eating/drinking, chewing slowly, but didn't have any restriction and was always hungry. My surgeon was only filling my band with .5 cc's of fluid at a time. Before I knew it, it was 3 years later and I'd only lost a total of 40 pounds (but that includes the 25 I dropped at the very beginning during add-on and the immediate weeks that followed), and I had about 8 cc's of fluid in my band that only holds 9 cc's! I couldn't eat hardly anything and was constantly getting food stuck. I was absolutely miserable, and too embarassed and frustrated to go back to the surgeon so I just dealt with it. Then, my employer added weight loss surgery to our covered benefits as of January, 2014 and I decided to look into whether it was possible to get the band removed and convert to the sleeve. My first appointment with the new surgeon /bariatric office was early March, and just yesterday I got the call from the hospital coordinators that I received approval from my insurance company. Now, I am just waiting for the surgeons office to finalize my chart, and I will have my surgery scheduled. I am both nervous and excited, and my biggest fear is that this procedure will also fail...but the more I come here to this site, and read all of your success stories, the more confident I get.

well two years ago when I began I just had one that my insurance company sent me to got half way through with the process then decided to give it a little bit and see if i could give it a real chance.. then after all that stuff with my dad (the worlds greatest dad) I actually talked to a couple friends that did more research than i had and they had bypass with this one of two docs that i am going to see. They actually hold several patents in laparoscopic surgery. and was one of the first ever to preform that type of surgery.. His name is dr steven scott. I feel very comfortable with knowing all of those things.:sad:

Welcome. I know there are other folks on here from Israel. You posted to the Gastric Bypass forum. Have you already decided on the bypass? I was recently sleeved after a very long time preparing. I was completely against any kind of surgery until my Dr. convinced me to just check it out and learn more. I found that the little knowledge I had was very outdated. I, too was very obese but until the past few years hasn't had any major health issues. Then, I started to fall apart. Today, I couldn't be happier with my recovery and more hopeful about my future. Best of luck with your journey. BariatricPal is an invaluable resource.

I was not interested in Malabsorption. I wanted to be able to take meds and supplements and not worrying about the dosing for the rest of my life. I also wanted to be as normal as possible, which was easily achieved with the sleeve I don't know anyone who as even had the bypass and got to a normal weight. They are all still obese. Gold standard my ^%$.

Congrats to you.. I have my last Nutrition appointment in November ... I'm Hoping for a date in December !!! :girl_hug:

Hello and welcome. I have Kaiser as well and went through Richmond Kaiser. I got referred in early November. Had orientation in December. Orientation was a 4-5 hour program and very full. YOu can't be late at all and that is when they take your starting weight. Wear extra clothing and shoes to weigh in on this appointment:tt2: at this appointment they give you options of RNY and lap band.......also you get the pre op diet. Start it right away!! If your strict with the diet the weight comes off pretty quick. Next is the psych evaluation. Pretty easy appointment as long as you don't have a mental health history. Than you get a surgeons appointment next. At this appointment they give you a goal weight for surgery. If you have already lost 10% since the orientation weigh in (which is possible-lots of people have done it) than you move forward towards a surgery date Next appointment is when your at goal weight with the case manager. They will meet with you and give you a sugery date usually 4-6 weeks out. After that you get lots of blood work and lab tests and you will meet with the surgeon one more time. Than you go to pre op which is half day class. Half nutrition and half pre op prep. Usually the same day you get a surgeons appointment, a physical and final lab tests. Than on to surgery.............. They say it takes 6 months usually but alot of us made it in four months......................depends on how fast you lose the weight. I could have done it in three but I went overseas for a month and delayed the surgery until I got back..........but that was my choice to delay surgery a month. Staff at Kaiser is great!! strict but once they know your serious about getting healthy they are supportive. They say that 90 of people that come to orientation don't make it to surgery.................so they do try to weed people out in the beginning but if your one of the ones to stick around they are supportive. I had Dr. Baggs and he is GREAT. Love him!! But also heard great things about the other doctors there. Dr. Fischer, Dr. Im and Dr. Fishcher. Dr. Baggs is the chief of surgery and does alot of the procedures. Richmond is not the greatest part of town. But the drive over there is not bad. I live in Sacramento and went over there about once a month during the process...........now I will be going every six weeks or so to get a fill and check up. I lost 25 pre op and have lost almost 10 this last week since surgery. It is alot of work and it will continue to be alot of work. We have a very active support group in the sacramento area that meets regularly. I say go for it and ask for tips from those of use who just went through it.

Hi just looking for some fellow 16th (or close) sleevers. Our countdown is on!! I'm nervous, excited and scared of how much pain it's going to be.. I'm going back and forth in my head should I do this? Can I do this? Can i follow my plan and get to my goal? I can't remember what it's like to be thin... it's been since highschool. I know i'm not going to back out since i've already dished out the $4000 max out of pocket that my insurance requires. Anyone else having these feelings? thanks- Kellli :/

Hi everyone, I had my gastric bypass on Sept 5 and I'm glad I found this awesome app. Looking forward to having all of you for support and feedback.

I think people who have gastric bypass get loose skin from losing 100 pounds overnight. The lap band is more gradual. If you are young and your skin is good, and you do slow steady weight loss, plastic surgery might not be necessary. My last big weight loss before the lap band was 60 lbs and I didnt have loose skin because it was gradual (over 2 yrs). I dont see myself getting plastic surgery now except that my boobs are headed south and that seriously bugs me but they look good in a bra.

I really don't know what started up. I've changed and stuck to plan. Nothing worked. I've been toning up for a while maybe that's what finally was the changed. I have no idea. I'm just glad it did. I go to the DR in November so I needed it to be different.

On the plus side, if you feel bad, they have stuff for that at the hospital and they can get you fixed up with different pain meds. It is about time for freakin out. It's OK. We all freak out about this point. Time to second guess yourself, why am I doing this etc. It's just part of the process. If you search around you will get some good packing lists, which will be the next thing you should freak out about. Please understand I'm not being snarky...I've just been there and made the same post last November. It worked out great.

Time to start this journey [03 Sep 2006|10:57am] [music | The first time ever I saw your face [03 Sep 2006|10:57am When did it hit me? When Chris said, "think of all the things you would have done in Alaska had you not had a mobility issue"(?) Probably. It all seem to come to synchronicity (great album BTW). Half day at school, I needed to renew my prescriptions and see the doctor about that darn rash. I went to my dentist after school let out and had that off bite drilled down since it hadn't really felt right since doing the new filling. It took but a brief five minutes and I found myself back out in my car and heading towards Main Street. Left. I think I'll get those prescriptions in person rather than waiting for the pharmacy to call them in. Five blocks away and I was parking right next to the front door. How often does that happen? I walked up to the window and signed in and sat down. "Mrs. Reeves did you have an appointment?", a new receptionist peered out from the glass partition, "No I just happened to be in New Port Richey for a dentist appointment and need to have a rash looked at" (TMI I though to myself, too much information) but it seemed to appease her and I waited. Less than ten minutes and I was walking down the hallway past the examination rooms, going, going, to the last room which I know to be my doctor's preferred examination room. Wednesday, he's not there on Wednesdays, it's his day off. "What are you here for today?". I like the older staff. I know them, they take their time and I can ask about the issue "downunda" without feeling like the PHCC grad staff is "sewgrossing" about it at lunch. I tell her all of the truth, that I have a rash down there and that I have another rash on my arm. My back is killing me ( couldn't be that extra 200 pounds could it..answer your own question Patty, YES!) The list is long. She smiles, she comforts me and takes my blood pressure. She leaves. I'm waiting for the nurse practioner to come in but I hear my doctor's familiar pitch and tone. It's Wednesday, he isn't here on Wednesdays. The door opens and my nurse has returned, "Is Dr. Sichelman here?" "yes" "he isn't here on Wednesdays it's his day off" I tell her, "Dr. Galadi is on vacation so he is covering" she tells me. (how often does that happen?) This is going to be a day for unexpected things. My doctor comes in, I show him my rash on my arm, it's not really anything what else? There is the lump on my stomach in the mass of large fat on my belly I feel a pea like object, he feels it, it's nothing. He notices the rash below my stomach. I've been treating it with ointment for how long? (should I tell him years? Should I tell him two baths a day?) "it's been there awhile" I managed. He pulls at my underpants and notices another flush of skin below that. I admitted sex hadn't been what it use to be and he tells me to go to my OBGYN, "we really don't deal with that". Before I know it the conversation has turned with the problem at the moment and he begins examining me. This is a man of medicine, a healer at heart and I never appreciate him more than this moment. I have a staph infection and then a yeast infection. Before I leave there I will end up have a stack of nine separate prescriptions. I cover myself back up and sit down on the bench. He sits down at the other end and the nurse is stationed with my chart and a pen at the desk. The greater question, the greater issue, my weight. "So when are we going to get this weight off?" It's a question, a subject that he and I have talked about for years. My doctor of 16 years. Through the phase of Phen-Fen, Meridian, Redux, 1200 calories, 1800 calories, over the counter products into last year and the diagnosis of Type I Diabetes, rehabilitation to begin some type of activity until now. It's serious. My back is giving under the pressure, I take Lasix for water retention, blood pressure medication and he switches me today to two types of medication. "I know Doctor. I don't know what to do. I've tried, I've tried for years." This is a moment of honesty, the reality that my life is on the line. He tells me I'm looking at ten years. (ten years until my body breaks a blood vessel in my brain, tens years until my heart faults, ten years of semi goodness left in my body) He goes on to tell me about another patient. "He had the same problem as you. He had the gastric surgery, came in a few months back and I hardly recognized him." *A year ago I couldn't have, wouldn't have entertained this procedure* I can do this on my own I said. But a year later and an increase in 25 pounds told me that there comes a time when one has to admit they are in over their head. I was in over my head and I knew it. "Where did he go?" I was ready. I'll take some fries with that bypass [05 Sep 2006|11:59am] I refused to go to Community Hospital. Some how my brain is in 1983 with my first pregnancy and the halting news of things that had happened in this antiquated facility. But that was then, this is now. Reconstruction, new specialists are the norm for hospitals. This one has taken on the issue of obesity with a center for Weight Loss Surgery. I called three gastric doctors before realizing that there was going to be more than just a surgery. I went online and found the center's information site and read. I read for perhaps an hour. There was gastric bypass surgery, there was another type of surgery that was invasive. There was also the type of incision. I was quickly opting for laproscopic surgery. Small incision, scope to aid the doctor to see what was inside. Less invasive, quicker recovery(...I'll take some fries with that). I phoned the center and the voice on the other end was a rich accent (Jamaica?) and gentle. She asked all the questions I anticipated. I'd been down this road with my children and their pediatric disorders. Who? What? What kind of insurance? The quicker route would be to have my doctor's office call this center because everything is a referral. Making a decision to have a procedure like this is the first step the second, step is the business of it. Is it covered by insurance? The following Monday was a holiday and as it just happened to be, she was having a seminar with a few other patients. I would attend. That weekend went fast and Monday morning I was on my way down to New Port Richey, to the hospital, to the empty parking lot (holiday) to the office of Ivy. The first thing I did was sit down OF COURSE that is what fat people do when they first enter a room! (note to self: send that joke to Louis). We made our way across the hall to the meeting room. There is something about conference rooms that put me at ease. I expect a lecture, a Power Point because the screen is down and soon we are joined by a couple. Later I would exchange email addresses with "Patti" who happened to have a favorite color too...PURPLE! She saw my "Pattypreferspurple" email address on the sign up sheet and we clicked from that moment on. She had come with her husband. Then there was Gerry. I looked at them and we all seemed to have this spiritual connection. I was past being shy about my obesity, I'm big and I know it. After a few hours I was hungry and my sugar was getting low. I asked Ivy for a banana or something to raise my sugar, FOOD? She called down to the cafeteria and ordered up a few breakfast items and coffee. What do fat people love to do when they come together? ORDER IN! What did I care that there were pastries on the tray, I was here for a procedure that wouldn't allow me to eat more than 1 oz. of food, " A shot glass" as I put it. We laughed, ate, drank and got down to the business of filling out paperwork, copying identification cards and preparing ourselves for the business of weight loss. and it occurred to me. These people were smart, well articulated and with the collective as a group, we were already breaking down the percentages of the data on the Power Point and realizing that a large % of the group did not return post the procedure in the study group. So I admit that I too have the misperception that fat people are stupid, food numbed individuals who wile the hours away in front of a television doing everything but being nutritiously sound in mind and spirit. I'm beginning to learn a lot of WRONG things that like the rest of the world, I believe to be true.

Hello!! I am new to this page, I just joined today. I have so many questions about lapband and what to do, I do not know where to start. How many of you have had it and love it? Hate it? How well did it work? How long ago was it? I am 29, I will be 30 in November, and I do not remember when I weighed less then 200lbs. I need to do something and I want to do it. But I am nervous. Can anyone give me some advice?

Hi I thought I would introduce myself. Im Melinda 41 and live in London uk. I had my Sleeve done on the 8th February 2011 at the Hommerton Hospital In Hackney. I was first referred there by my diabetic doctor 14 momths previous to surgery. Having diabetes that was steadily getting worse, high blood pressure, high cholestrol wls was considered the best option for me. I went to my first appointment thinking of having a gastric band, they soon said no to that, and suggested I have the Gastric Bypass. So my starting weight was 17and a half stone. and at 4ft 11inches my bmi was 44, if i remember rightly. Before surgery I got down to 16 stones. I had complications during my surgery hence why I ended up having a Gastric Sleeve instead of a Bypass, they had a struggle to keep me alive, due to me having pnemonia. My post op period was herrendous, i had to have further surgery, and am still currently having breathing problems. I see the hospital every two weeks, and my doctors once a week. But I am now 6 weeks down the line and am feeling so much better than i did I am nearly me again, minus 33lbs lol... I no longer take blood pressure tablets, its normal for the first time in 16 yrs lol. But I am still due to my surgeons advice only on stage 2 of eating, ie mushy food, and I am still struggling with pain, am off to see my surgeon later today so hoping he can give me some advice. Anyway think ive kinda waffled abit now so will sign off for now.

Hey guys! I'm new here and soon to be sleeved on the 20th of November! I came across this forum through a google search and it was exactly what I was looking for. I've been reading a lot of helpful stuff here the past few days and it's really been like a good friend that understands me and helps me get through my pre-op liquid diet and all other queries I have. A big thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and providing such a vast amount of information. I'm 24 years old, currently based in Dubai, UAE, where a majority of the population is either over weight or obese. I myself am morbidly obese weighing 447 lbs last I checked at my doctors consultation. However, I'm blessed with a good height so I don't think its too obvious visually. I've always been over weight for my age since the time I was born. However, over the past 6-8 years i've gained weight at a scary rate. I've attempted going on diets, joining the gym, paying for personal trainers but all of that only worked temporarily. I've lost 30-40 pounds previously when I've tried hard but then maintaining a strict diet on a long term basis never worked out. But now the weight has started taking a serious toll on my health and work. I've started experiencing leg and back pains, breathlessness, sleep apnea, extreme laziness etc. So to put it in a nutshell, the past 2 years haven't been very pleasant...mentally or physically. I've been contemplating to go for bariatric surgery for the past 2 years and now i've finally gotten to it. In Dubai, no insurance covers this sort of procedure so it all comes out of our own pockets. Hence its taken a while for me to take this step. I'm currently 3 days into my pre-op liquid diet and it's just been terrible for me. I get extremely tempted since i'm surrounded by hotels and restaurants where I live. And i've never denied myself completely of food before, ever. I have 2 glasses of the Isopure Dutch chocolate Protein shake daily which doesn't taste too bad, but it felt really sickening today. No clue how i'm going to last for another 13 days! I'm just trying to stay focused on the prize. I've become really moody so its hard to talk to a lot of people, but isolation isn't helping either. So i'm really glad i found this forum. It really helps me just going through success stories and other people's journies. I'll try to keep posting updates. I'm really looking forward to the next few months. Although my doc has warned me that i'll be regretting my decision for the next 6 months . Is it really that hard?? I have an idea of what to expect but I hope it isn't too rough. From what I've read, each persons journey is unique in its own. Here's hoping for a 'not too unpleasant' one for myself. Godbless!

Thank you. Weight loss surgery is something I thought about 20+ years ago but did not feel comfortable doing the gastric bypass. Looking back I regret all the fun times I have missed out with my children but so looking forward to making wonderful "active" memories with my grandsons!

I'd like invites to November groups please!!

Congrats and good luck on starting your journey! I was just banded yesterday. May I ask why you've considered Lapband when your husband has been successful with gastric bypass?

My insurance is through UHC. I don't have a specific Dr for the procedure yet. I have chosen to be banded over gastric bypass for a lot of reasons. It being less invasive, having a shorter recovery time, being adjustable and even reversible being at the top of the list. Sarah

I am new to the forum and haven't done this type of thing before so I hope I am doing it right! Not banded yet but finishing up preop requirements for insurance and should be scheduled end of April. I would love more info on life after banding, the good and the bad. I have read alot about people fighting hunger in the first couple months and even gaining weight! Is this going to be enough? I am not considering bypass because it is to radical for me. New gastric sleeve procedure sounds like the best way to go but my ins won't cover. I would love to hear from some of you who are postop and have any helpful hints! Good luck to everyone out there fighting this battle to improve health and happiness!

Yes, the port site is the largest incision. I was banded on November 19th, and it took about a week and a half for the gas pains in my shoulder to go away, but using the heating pad and getting up and walking around for short periods of time as often as possible REALLY helped. It also took about 6 to 7 days before the tightness in my stomach went away for the most part (which is dead on for what the doctor said, he told me I would feel better Saturday and my operation was on Monday), but I again found that getting up and moving around as much as possible REALLY helped that dwindle away as the days went on. As far as sitting comfortably, I usually carried a pillow around with me when home to help support my back and allow me to sit more comfortably. Also, when going anywhere in the car, I brought one pillow for behind my back, and one to keep pressed to my stomach for the trip so that things wouldn't get jostled around too much on bumpy roads! Good luck with the coming days and I hope you start feeling much better soon!