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I went to a "reunion" of sorts - people who I worked with on a very big project about 15-18 years ago. I was a "young woman" in my 30s then, but due to obesity aged beyond my years. Now, we are all a little older, a little mellower and for me ALOT thinner. I have been at goal since Feb 2013 so most people hardly remember what I looked like before - in fact somebody at the party mentioned that (I still work with her so she has seen me alot). It was uncomfortable at times to get all the remarks, and I felt like my former 9retired) boss was uncomfortable around me (happened last time i saw him too, shortly after getting to goal). Since so many people post about being uncomforrtable about people noticing their weight loss, I thought i would share two specific stories that came up at this party. First, a lady that has always been thin, beautiful, tall blah blah blah. She made comments about how she had seen my face in pictures, but never really got a look at my body and just went on and on about how much I have changed. The longer and louder she got, the more defensive I started to feel. I recognized it and made the decision to do what I decided in 2012/2013 about work colleagues - these are people that respected and included me even when i didn't feel I deserved it, so I am going to suffer through some of their current rudeness knowing they are just expressing alot of things they don't know how to express in the best way. It was like... deep breath.... I can get through this even when she said "I think you are about half the size you used to be!". I told her that was the truth, I lost about half my size which of course is an indirect way of giving people an idea how much you lost. But seriously, when you used to be in the 24W-32W size range and are now single digit sizing - it is not exactly a secret is it!?! I knew her intentions were good, this lady is also a horse rider and she never made me feel like I was too big to be involved with horses or any of those kinds of things. Anyway, it was difficult for me, but the end result was getting invited on a trip to Hawaii with her and a small group of "girls" that were on that same project! Why didn't she invite me before? Well, to be honest, because in the past i could be standoffish/separate myself from others and often refused invitations etc from work related people especially. I am thrilled to be going and they are thrilled to have me. Second, the host of this event is a few years younger and was actually a single guy when I worked with him. Anyway, he is super outgoing/outrageous type of personality so he was really over the top vocal about how much I have changed. I could tell it was even making other people I work with (who are well over the shock) uncomfortable. Finally, one of the guys i work with said in response to his gushing about how different I look "yes M, you already said that". To which M replied, "but what i haven't said is not only do you look great from losing all that weight, you somehow turned out hot!" That got nods of approval and good laughs all around. It was a boost for me as I am 10# over goal, and of course notice my waist isn't as small as it was a year ago etc but i am still doing great. Moral of my story - well, there probably isn't one, but at least for me embracing other people's reactions to my epic physical transformation is part of my epic internal transformation. I have always felt I am a person with integrity, honesty, but this having to face stuff like this has forced me to dig deeper for a level of transparency and trust of others that isn't always comfortable. The thought that helps me alot is the knowledge that these SAME people accepted me, advocated for me, promoted me, respected me, worked with me and did alot of other great things even when I was morbidly obese (as they should of course!)

I found that I have averaged 10 pounds a month since my surgery. I just went for a fill yesterday and I had lost 12 pounds in 6 weeks. The nurse was really complimentary and saying "wow, that is great". I said that it was only 2 pounds a week and I thought that was right? She said that by this time people are usually losing 1 pound a week, even with exercise. I guess I'm lucky for the moment, but the day will come when I'm not losing so fast--I'm not looking forward to it!

At week 3 it is probably real hunger. It took me 8-10 weeks before my band started to do what I was expecting it to do. Week 3 I was on mushies. Different Soups, chili. scrambled eggs, quiche, mashed sweet potatoes. and on and on. At this point it is not about loosing weight or controlling hunger. It is all about fully healing before they can get down to real business.

I was sleeved 2/16/13. And Saturday evening i started getting this weird pain in my stomach right on the top part of my stomach but it's like a pain that's there for like 10 seconds then goes away and I'm fine then like 10-20 min later I get it again. And when I get the pain my stomach I can hear a grumbling sound in my stomach. I can't say it's a horrible pain cuz I can tolerate it. Has this ever happened to anybody??

So today marked day 6 of my pre-op diet. I've generally been doing pretty good with it. I realize I have to do this and I've put my mind to it to get it done. Today was a very busy day. We've recently finished our basement and I had lots to do building shelves and hanging pictures. Right after I started working my knees started to throb. Then my back began to ache. After about an hour I got nauseas and a bit woozy. I struggled through the rest of the day taking many breaks and resting my knees and my back. Once the day was done, I took a shower and realized why I'm about to have life changing surgery in 10 days. Sure, I'd like to look hot again (or as hot as a 60 year old guy can) but after today the real reason came out. I can't live anymore carrying about 150 lbs of extra weight. Although my doc says I'm the healthiest fat guy he's ever seen, I know that if my joints and muscles are breaking down so badly from this weight, the rest of my body can't be far behind. Looking good will be a great side affect from my surgery but truly the best benefit will be being healthy once again.

@dlar57- get the wet brush it cost about 10- but well worth it. I started ataking Biotin 10,000 mg and good vitimins too a while ago, fingers crossed it will help!!

Good Luck! you will be great! I've been on the pre op liquid diet for 10 days now!! I get sleeved on the 27th! Keep us update on your progress! Vanessa

Thank you everyone, i will try to show him, i dont plan on going anywhere, i know i have told him a million times, after all we have been together 10 years and have kids together lol! I do wish he would be happier for me, and not say things like, well i guess we wont be going to the buffet any more! Smh

What's a support belt? I am 10 days postop and still sore when I'm moving around.

I did it still afraid. Once I got to the hospital, I was so busy that I forgot about my fears. Then, later I was given a nice pre-med drug cocktail that actually relaxed me so much that I fell asleep while I was waiting for the surgery. Then a trip to theatre room, count backwards from 10, vaguely remember 8, and next I was waking up in recovery to have my vitals checked. Fell asleep again, briefly woke up to have my vitals checked (don't remember being wheeled to my hospital room), fell asleep etc .... I was done late in the evening, so I just slept and slept. Next day had a walk with a physio plus my IV stand, started on my fluids, had bit of pain, mainly from my drain site on my left side, got good pain killers. Was relieved once the drain came out the day after (not everyone gets a drain), could sip more fluids, had a clear Soup, Jello, Water, tea. Not much pain after drain came out. No nausea, no vomiting. This was lot less painful surgery than some other ones I had in the past. So, have faith that if it brought you this far, you can go further, be afraid etc, just take one step at a time, and One Day at a Time. Good Luck!

I was banded in June and have been slow to lose weight mainly cause I didn't have restriction till my last fill (8cc in 11cc band) and now have better restriction. Up until 10 days ago, I wasn't getting hungry till like 4 hours after a meal, now it's more like 2.5 - 3. My question is if the reason we feel full is becuase our small pouch is full, and it takes one hour or so to empty the pouch, then how do we stay full for 4 hours? How do we feel full for hours when our small pouch empties out in an hour or so? Thanks!

Day 10 for me of my 2wks liquid diet, not including the day before surgery of just clear liquids. I really haven't had much hunger, but I've put a lot of effort into making my shakes interesting. I'll add fruit, no sugar flavor syrups, flavor extracts, etc and try different recipes. For breakfast today, I'm having a pumpkin pie flavored protein shake (pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, vanilla extract, little bit of skim milk and water, and protein powder). Throw it all in the blender for a min with about a cup of ice and voila - a nice frothy (and big) protein shake that takes me awhile to drink. Your body will get used to it!

I don't think that I could have put it in words any better. You described my post op experience to a T. I was sleeved 10/12. I am JUST now starting to feel like a real person again. Today is the first day that I haven't cried. I even went outside with my toddlers for a while. This time last week I was convinced that it would be easier if I just rolled over and never got back up. I absolutely promise you that it does get better. You WILL start feeling human again. Push through, go find a support group (I went to an over eaters anonymous group last night for the first time and loved it), tell your family that you are not ok right now and let them help you. This will all be worth it. For now, find something small to Celebrate every day and remember that you're not alone. HW 427 SW 358 sleeved 10/12/16 I may not be there yet, but I'm closer than I was yesterday.

My second stuck episode is now over. It lasted 1 hour and 10 minutes. I'm going back to liquids today. I'll try solids again later. I hope the information in this thread might help others somehow.

My surgeon its an automatic. If you have a gallbladder they will remove it. Unfortunately I lost mine 10 years before in an open gallbladder removal. Left me a nice 5 inch scar right across my belly and 4 days in the hospital. Now having an abdominalplasty and that lovely scar puts me at further risk for healing. Still having the abdominalplasty........cannot live with this huge apron of skin and residual fat.

Any tips on the liquid diet Thursday afternoon will be my last meal. The time for surgery will be here before I know it getting myself prepared

I can't offer much, I'm only 10 days post op but originally that is what I wanted. After research I decided against the band due to complications, always getting fills, and having a foreign object. The first doctor I went to was opposite as yours. I wanted sleeve by that point he suggested band but was willing, I found a new surgeon as the only reason was band was that surgeon's specialty. I researched alot on here and after my initial thoughts band was never an option. Keep reading and be sure to ask the people who had band to sleeve revision Also to had there are success stories with the band for me though sleeve was the better option.

I am 4 weeks post op and am stuck at 18 pounds lost. It is very frustrating. Do I need a fill or go back to liquid (don't want to go back to liquids) diet? I have my 4 week check on Wednesday, I think i am going to ask for a fill. It will be my first. Another 10 pounds or so and I will be able to fit in my old jeans. CAN'T WAIT!!!

Hey Amy, send me an email with your information, Friday at 10 am sounds good for you? I sent you the email:) 10am is good! thank you!

Hi. My name is Candy and I live just southeast of Columbus OH. I started this journey in June by attending one of the seminars at Mount Carmel. I just got approved yesterday and I can't wait to find out when I can have the surgery. 6/25/08 - Seminar 7/26/08 - Accepted into program 9/2/08 - Surgeon appt. 9/12/08 - Psych eval 9/8/08 - Dr. visit 1 of 3 09/24 - EKG 10/2/08 - Nutritionist 10/3/08 - Stress test - cancelled 10/6/08 - Dr. visit 2 of 3 10/7/08 - Echo 10/10/08 - stress test - cancelled 11/7/08 - Stress test - completed 11/17/08 - Dr. visit 3 of 3 11/18/08 - approved by insurance

Hi, I had band surgery 10-24-07, and had no issues until 8 weeks post op when I developed an infection in the port area. My symptoms started out just like yours, and they got worse. I was on antibiotics by mouth for a few days, and the swelling/pain increased, and the red circle around my port area grew larger. After three days on antibiotics my fever spiked to 103.4. I was admitted to the hospital for a week on IV antibiotics, and then they eventually had to remove my port. My port was removed Dec. 17th, and the plan is to have it replaced in March. Do not panic will be ok....just get attention quickly. Like with any surgery infections can occur. Please let us know how are you doing.

Oh Thank Goodness I'm not alone! I am 12 days post surgery and I am so scared because I find that I haven't had to puree my foods as much as I thought I would have to. I dont have any problem with feeling full or wanting to snack. I am eating good Proteins, veggies/fruits and just chewing chewing chewing. I even had some green Beans and beets that were not pureed but smashed and it all went down well. BUT I am so afraid that I am either not eating the right combination of food or maybe eating too much. I do measure and/or weigh each of them and have not snacked or cheated in any way but I am GAINING weight... At 10 days post op, I had lost a total of 26 pounds but in the last 2 days I have gained almost 5 pounds. I wonder if I am retaining Water, am I eating too much or not the right combination of foods. I also wonder if its because I went 8 days on liquids and then it took a few days for my body to bounce back and catch up.

Just be careful...I guess I got overconfidant today in how good I was feeling and drank my first Protein shake of the day fairly fast. I didn't gulp but I probably finished a decent size shake (10 oz.?) in 10 minutes. Then around noon after a little warm soup and I went to drink some cold crystal light - let me tell you, that did not feel good at all. As soon as the cold liquid hit near my diaphragm area it was pain and pressure. I layed off the cold liquid and have just had a small amount of warm/lukewarm liquid since then. Just about 20 minutes ago I was thirsty and tried some cold Water (very tiny sips) and it seems to be doing okay, but I'm definitely going to slow it down from here on out and maybe switch back to clear Protein drinks for a few days. Best of luck to everyone!!! I guess it is definitely a learning process :thumbdown:

FINALLY! SOMEONE AFTER MY OWN HEART!!!! Not weighing yourself every second! i used to do that too! Weigh only at the drs office. I had my surgery came home and tossed the scale out into the trash. . it was the best thing i ever did! At my 7th week i went to the doctor and had lost a whooping 53 lbs! I was so proud of myself it made it all worth while. Now at 10 1/2 months out and a loss of 140 lbs I'm really happy with myself. . . . YES pureed chicken and beef is just like paste no matter what you do to it. . .don't get upset with life at thanksgiving, you won't be able to eat much, only a bite here and there and you'll feel sorry for yourself. . . but you know what? It's ok! It's normal. . . we are so used to eating sooo much food all our lives and then suddenly overnight our tummy's are snatched away from us and we are EXPECTED to change our ways. . . It's really hard, but in time you will learn what to do. . I still have some problems at times in that I don't have time to eat properly and eat junk food. . .thank god for pork rinds though! I eat those alot. . . no carbs~!!!!! But you will do fine! Just wrap your head around the new you and take it easy. . .don't beat yourself up and keep on doing what you do! Have a blessed thanksgiving and give blessing to the ones around you and not on what you have lost. Good luck!

Thanks everyone! I'm having a really hard time with sausage and bacon and scrambled eggs being cooked here for hubby and the kids this morning for Breakfast...but k had my shake. I am second-guessing my decision about 10 times a day right now! But anyway, I'm having bypass done. I forgot to mention that in my intro post.