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Thank you for that response. I'm not normally afraid of stuff but for some reason I have been lately. I canceled another procedure unrelated to WLS last month bc I just couldn't go through with it. I hope mine is as easy as yours for sure. My youngest daughter had a severe stomach bleed a few yrs ago and we almost lost her. She had to have two separate scopes done. Maybe my anxiety is bubbling up from that.

So I absolutely love water. It has always been my favorite drink to drink. Before surgery I would drink like 6-8 water bottles a day. Now that I have had surgery, it is a lot harder to drink that much water BC my stomach won't really hold that much at a time, and sipping water all day seems that I can't get 64 oz in because it gets warm so fast, and sometimes I just need to taste something lol. Does anyone think that I can count Powerade zero as my intake for some water? Like maybe 15 oz or less a day.

Clothes shopping. That is a crutch I plan to use! I love food, but it made buying clothes much less enjoyable so I am hoping to replace my love of food with my love of shopping. Hoping it works bc there are things I know I'm going to mourn the loss of!

You have what is essential if you want to tackle any problem - you have a good mind. You have realistically and dispassionately evaluated yourself, and you know your weak points and your triggers. You know the origins of your tendency toward putting on weight. You should be commended for putting so much thought into your situation. You seem to have what many people have and that is a portion control problem and are an emotional eater: food equals LOVE. BUT you seem to have a spouse who will be supportive, since she is careful with what she feeds the kids. She will support whatever you need to accomplish your goal. These are all good things. Did anyone mention that in getting a sleeve gastrectomy, the surgeon cuts away a large part of the stomach which secretes a hormone which causes cravings? Ask him about it. I have experienced a drastic reduction in cravings. I no longer crave bread and wheat paroducts. It is good because wheat contains gluten and gluten can cause inflamation and aches and pains. This part of the stomach might grow back in time (years) and you ought to be cognizant of that. After surgery, things which you liked the taste of, you suddenly might not like the taste of. It sounds strange, but I was a sugar addict but after the surgery, a lot less so. The Protein drinks I had to drink at first tasted good, but now are too sweet for me. I hope you get a nutritionist counselor with your surgery. He/she will tell you that there are many Protein Drinks available and tell you which ones to try. As to getting too skinny and looking weak - You will be taking protein and Vitamin supplements to make sure you will not lose muscle. Follow your nutritionist's rules. There are a million ways to cheat the weight loss and put back the weight (unfortunately). The sleeve is only a tool. You can restretch your stomach back to its original big size over time, but do not do that! Another thing: Most of your weight will come off in the first year. That is your "Honeymoon Period" when the weight will fall off the easiest. Take advantage of that fact. What you will enjoy the most, I think, is the freedom you will get from not being a slave to food. I can walk by the bakery and not go nuts! I do not crave sweet, greasy, gooy-goop any longer. Food does not mean what it used to! You will understand that the refrigerator is NOT your friend. It has always been your enemy! HA! This is another benefit: Since you will not be as tempted as you have been by food, it will not be a strain NOT to buy stuff that your entire family should not be eating. You will go by the cookie aisle without suffering. This will be good for the kids and everyone. My husband lost 5 pounds in the last 2 months only because we were simply not buying the things I craved. Your weightloss will have beneficial effects all around. There was a story in the Wall Street Journal a week or so ago about intestinal bacteria, which said that some of our rising obesity problems might be related to the "bad" bacteria living in our gut, because the "good" bacteria has been killed off by antibiotics (both what we have taken as drugs and the antibiotics fed to animals). You might want to Google that. I found it interesting. I think the surgery stops some cravings, and changes the intestinal bacteria as well. That's all I can think of now. I commend you on your clearheaded thinking. You will be all right.

well, I have fallen off the ww wagon...actually I fell off about 2 weeks ago when I went in and the scale said I had gained back 3 of my hard lost 7.5 pounds in just 1 week! Even though I had my period that week I was crushed. I was also getting bored with the counting and journalizing even though thats the only way i can ever loose weight. I did not go for my weigh in last Tuesday and I missed today also so if I do go back next Tuesday it will have been three weeks. I only lasted for 6 weeks. That seems to be my limit with ww. I don't know why. I am going to go back to it as of today though and hopefully the scale wont be completely horrifying next week. The fat dietician (me) meets with the skinny dietician this week to get my dose of why I am fat and how to get skinny from a sweet innocent size 5, 23 year old. She really is rather nice though so I won't be catty just because I am jealous!! The irony of the entire situation really gets to me though. I am just going through the motions because of hte whole insurance BS. Getting real old too. I have decided on how I am gonna do all of my surgeries though and that has eased my mind some what. Hopefully I will get the go ahead from my insurance company in January and I can have the band procedure done in February. Then in July I will have bilateral skin sparing mastectomy with implant reconstruction and an oopherectomy or possibly a full hysterectomy at the same time if they will do it all at once. I am waiting for my BRCA 1 results to officially come back...just a technicality since I know I have the mutation...well theres a 1 in 10000000000000000 chance that I don't but...I'm not holding my breath. My sister lucked out and she tested negative Thank You God. Now my greatest prayer will be that both of my children are spared. If my daughter has the mutation she says she wants to have the bilateral mastectomy soon. I hate for her to have to face such a decision so young. She is only 22. Chances are that she won't have to worry about it for another 10 or 15 years, but the chances of me getting breast cancer at 37 were less than 3% of all breast cancers. So I don't trust odds. I won't try to influence her decision because I could never live with myself if she waited because I advised her to wait and then ended up with breast cancer. Please God..please spare my children from this disease. I ask this in your Son Jesus name. Amen.

Yeah Im getting pretty freakin fed up with my husband on the Mexico issue. I had my surgery here in my home state and basically now have a car payment for the next several years to afford it :/ Now, Im a little ahead of myself, but after all the great experiences here I've read about, I've been looking into maybe plastics down there. I mean 1 possibly 2 years in tax returns and it would be paid for! No loans and unbelievable price tags. I mean we are middle class people here. We are not rich. My car is old and having transmission issues, but I paid out of pocket for a $25000 surgery here in the states! I did it because I knew it would save my life. Im so glad I had, and don't mind dealing with a crappy car for years to come. However, plastics in the US would be unrealistic for us. Yet, my dumba** husband won't even entertain me with the thought of Mexico. I straight up told him yesterday "Hon, I love you to death, but Im not breaking the bank here in the US if I find the right doc. elsewhere, and I really think that this decision is ultimately my decision not yours." Well he didn't like that answer. I hope he comes around, looks at the info I have for him, and understands my thought process.

I had to hear the same line of BS from my friends and family. "What about the drug cartels" "what about the sub standard care" "what happens if you have problems down there" etc. etc. Blah Blah Blah!!! My husband finally had to step in and shut them all up!!! Then to top it all off I came on here to tell people about my journey ( I thought that's what you did on here). Boy was I wrong!!!!! I immediately got jumped and accused of being paid by the company to post and that I was a coordinator!!! I won't name a names.. you know who you are and its obvious you have given yourself the title of "forum police" & that you have no life. Anyways enough of that rant. For me Mexico was GREAT, I had no other options. I had a great surgeon, I did my research and felt totally comfortable with MY DECISION. Is there good surgeons in the states? Of course there is!! There are also equally as good of surgeons outside the states!!!! Don't listen to the bashing, do what you feel in your heart is right!!! Also I wanted to add that my surgery was on May 22nd, 2013. I am down 59 pounds!!! Im 5ft 6 and start weight was 218 and current weight is 159!!!! Only about 15-20 from goal weight. I haven't had ANY problems and I am so happy I went to Mexico and had it done!!! Plus no red tape insurance BS of jumping through hoops to get this done!!! Good luck to everyone!!!!

Hey cindysc how did you find your flight, what airline and where are your stops? I ask because I am hoping a friend of mine from Anderson can come with me. She was sleeved last May by Dr Ortiz so I figured who better to accompany me. I will buy her plane ticket so just trying to so a little planning. I'm afraid what rates will be if this sequester from the Feds really happens. Thanks a bunch!

Hi, I was just banded on June 28th. I have a baby, almost one year old who I still breast feed. I spoke with one of the anestesiologists. He said that the anesthesia is not in your milk once you no longer feel the effects of it. The same is with alchohol. If you have a drink and feel tipsy you should not breastfeed because the alcohol is in your milk at that time, but once you feel normal, then your milk is ok. He said to be really safe, wait for 24 hrs to feed your baby. That is what I did. I had Csections with both my babies and breastfed them immediately after I came out of the OR and while on pain meds in the hospital with no problems, and that was when they were newborns, so I would think if it was not safe, they would not have encouraged it. Because I paid cash for the Lap Band, I was able to go first at 0730, and home by 1400. So I fed my little guy before I left for the hospital and then I started again the next morning. He is older than your little one, so only feeds in the morning and before bed, but I had some frozen milk just in case he seemed to need it. He was fine about it all though. In regards to supply, I think everyone is different and you won't know until you have the surgery yourself. I would recommend you talk to your surgeon and research for yourself and then decide on what makes you comfortable. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

First of all, you do not have to finish your plate. Everyone has swelling after surgery and we can all eat different amounts. Some days you will also be able to eat more than others, although who knows why!! Also, eggs are not always easy with the sleeve especially in the first 6 months. Some people do great, but I had terrible issues with eggs especially scrambled eggs. Egg salad seems to work good too for some people which is with boiled eggs. I never thought of egg salad, but that kinda crumbles which is better than eating a pasty salad and it has a lot of Protein. When you cook the white and yellow parts as one, why is it digested differently? I don't know but it is. I digest them better if I don't scramble them before cooking. Also, I could not eat food that was very dense after surgery, almost killed myself on hummus on day. Similar experience with dense tuna salad once - could not eat tuna for a while (some people can, I could not) Kinda same thing with Peanut Butter, yuck for me. Things that I can chew that flake apart easily or come apart or sort of dissolve before swallowing work better than things that are still so thick even after chewing because then once you swallow you may find with the swelling it doesn't travel downward real well. Your own sleeve is unique and has its own pecurliarities so you really can't go exactly by a book. Once you find a routine and you stick with it that might work. THe best advice I heard is if you are having a hard time at the stage you are at, back up a step so if you are on solids go back to mushies for a while. This worked for me when I was in trouble. My sleeve was very forgiving. I made several mistakes especially choking on that hummus, for a moment I thought I might just die b/c I took a big bite and must have swallowed it all at once bc I was starvig at the time. Felt like I might not be able to breathe, extremely weird. But I lived and did not leak. Second thing I remember being real scared of was eating chinese food, chicken and veggies. I went and threw it up. I hadn't had nausea since the hospital so that scared me. I don't know how far out I was, but it must have been pretty far. I had a very hard time giving up the foods I was used to eating. I would push it hear and there bc I would feel so desperate. liquids were fine, but starting with mushies I think I just did not know what to do or how to do that stage very well. Now I wonder why didn't I just puree the foods I was cooking for my family or something? But I remember wanting to eat mashed potatoes with meatloaf, but realizing that not mch protein was in there. But of course I should have just used a little mashed potato and mostly meat ball and pureed it together. It was hard to figure out at the time, bc I was just in a state. We ALL have our issues with food, right? Anyway, my sleeve was pretty forgiving, and I pray yours is also. Some people throw up for weeks and survive, so it sounds to me like you'll be fine. Just back it up to the previous stage for a few days, like 2-3 days and then proceed. Believe it or not, you are through the hardest part already!!!

I was banded using the spider procedure which means that I have one tiny incision and another that's about 2 inches long. I don't seem to be having any pain at those sites but it feels terrible where I think my port is located. Is this normal? The pain is during deep breaths but mostly when getting in and out of bed. Is it bc the sewed the port to muscle. Please help. Ps I also had a hiatal hernia fixed.

My surgery is 3/5/14 and there is no pre-op liquid diet. Isn't that strange. This is a top rated program bc I called BCBS and asked. Good Luck

I have Anthem BC and they pay 80%, my 20% is almost $3,000 and does NOT include the anesthesiologist. If you have a surgeon already, ask them where they have the procedure done. Call the surgical center or hospital and speak to the business office, they can tell you how much you will be paying based on the type of insurance you have. Keep in mind or ASK about anesthesia. I did not ask and assumed it was included. I was wrong. I will be paying 20% of that as well and they run $1500 an hour. Good Luck!

30 y.o., 5'8", 230-240 (fluctuating weight) Weight and Weight-Loss Attempt History: Been overweight since I was 19. Went up to the 220s-230s for years. Pre-diabetic and fed up .. was able to get down to 180, but that was with an unsustainable schedule for myself: 1.5 hours workout in the morning followed by a 2 hour workout in the evening. Plus a calorie restriction. I was constantly exhausted, unsatisfied, and unhappy. Since, the weight has come back and I'm back to the 220s-240 range. I've tried yoga. I've had therapy. I've had trainers. I have had online trainers and nutritionists. I have had logs and trackers. I have been trained in mindful eating. I went to a stay away weight loss / therapy / nutrition / physical therapy program for over a week. Through it, it became clear I love working out and eating well, but it is very hard to feel full. It takes a lot more food to feel full, and I feel full for less long. I heard many others talk about how they eat because they don't know what hunger or fullness feels like. I totally know! Insurance: I called a Center for Excellence here in Boston (Mount Auburn), and at first they said Harvard Pilgrim requires a BMI ≥ 35 and a co-morbidity. At first, Mount Auburn said that HP wouldn't accept it. However, after calling HP, they told me that they accept apps on a case-by-case basis, and that Mt. Auburn should submit all relevant info with the application. Compressed discs (L5/S1) as a result of an initial and repeated injuries as the result of domestic violence. I have had numerous visits to the E.R. and my primary care physician. All she could find was a compressed disc. However, my back - especially since my weight gain - has made life difficult. I throw it out frequently, miss numerous days of work, and am unable to enjoy healthier activities. Above all else, it prevents me from working. I'm a teacher, and have to sit, lie down, or stay home. Sitting up from bed or even bending over to look at my students' work feels like a strain on the back, and can sometimes send shooting pain through my back/leg. Every doctor has said there isn't anything to do. So at this point, combined with my weight, my health and quality of life is worsening. I feel stuck. I can follow a program, but every program I try is not sustainable because at the end of the day I am just hungry. And the gastric sleeve seems like the teammate I need to help with the hunger, while I take care of everything else. QUESTIONS: Has anyone had similar experiences, or experiences with HP? What do you think my chances are? What - if any - documentation or details should I provide to Mt. Auburn so they can submit it to HP? Anyone know for sure what HP's requirements are? Thank you all for any help, and I hope you all find assistance and help in here too!

182.5 (still after yesterday---thank goodness) I need to figure out the emotional reason why I am wanting to eat/binge at night. Have an appointment with the counselor. Thank God for the band bc otherwise I would eat a ton more I feel certain. I think there is a lot going on with me- rejection seems to be a theme and I suspect the new world of dating, etc. Am I trying to sabatoge myself? this has to be an emotional issue. How did I go so long without this out of control feeling that I am getting now? BREAKFAST: 90 Cottage Cheese 11P TIGHT LUNCH: Seafood Cobb Salad -Shrimp, grilled scallops, diced egg whites, avocado over mixed greensSalad with Ranch, 2 pieces of bread SNACK: 4 little bitty snickers, 200 calories DINNER: At silent auction thing--toffee, little quiches, brie and crackes, wine

I was banded 9/11 and decided to do weekly weigh-ins and measurements. The measurements are not scientific... I label them boobs, butt, and belly button and try to keep the measuring tape in the widest area. My scale did move this week....UP! I gained two pounds, and I wasn't happy! But my boobs and butt measurements stayed the same and my belly button measurement decreased by three inches! I was so glad I had that little victory bc it made the number on the scale seem a little less frustrating!! So keep track of both, you'll be happy you did!

Might be bc it's hot outside Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@shewolf- I contacted my Dr.'s main nurse and she said this was natural and will eventually stop... but it's all hypothetical talk. As in I'm nervous bc it's only been 2 months and I've lost, give or take two-thirds of my hair- so I'm worried if this lasts for another month if I should get a wig. The Dr.'s nurse said it's almost never that serious.. but then again it's "almost"... it's never a definite answer. @Angelica- so rogaine is working??? I was just nervous to use that but will be considering it ASAP @Lacey- I thought about that and a wig!!!!!! @ Alia- I started using a Nioxin shampoo & conditioner..... I also just ordered & tried a Biotin organic type shampoo just to see the results but if you think Nioxin is a better pick then I'll def. go back to using that.. thanks for the advice

See I have never had acid reflux...not that I have ever noticed anyway...thats why this is so strange to me; I didnt have any problems with insurance covering the perscription, I just had a $3 copay...tricare is good for something right; but I am giving it a go bc the dr said so...thats why they get the big bucks right?

You are definitely having anxiety for a reason. This is a major surgery. One thing I wish I would have done was researched it more often. My surgery was lapriscopically. With a robot. I had a dream prior to my surgery that I was being operated on then I woke up during and my eyes were taped down. I guess they realizes I woke up and gave me medicine to put me back to sleep. I wasn't excited about my surgery bc I had so many problems with the lap-band I knew what to expect. But for some reason this time around was far far worse. It's almost 2 weeks post and my stomach still aches on the inside every day. My scars are fine. I'll be 23 Wednesday a day after my post op visit and I started at 327. Prior I lost 116 lbs n gained it all back. So I decided to try this but nothing could prepare me for how I feel now. I kinda feel betrayed by my body. Hopefully when I'm down about 40 lbs my insight will change. I hope all goes well with your surgery.

well, the boiled egg went down GREAT! i just chewed chewed chewed it into an oblivion in my mouth....it went down smoothly, didn't get stuck, and only 1/2 of a boiled egg and i felt full! YAY! the only thing is....am i the only one on here who is getting hungry at like 2-4 hr intervals? i think its probably bc the liquids go down quicker then the mushy food....but when i'm only doing liquids, i get hungry alot sooner. i'm hoping w/the egg now, i won't get hungry again in a few hours. lemme know how often ya'll are getting hungry on stage 1 and stage 2. thanks.

I am in BC Canada and there is no self pay option here for gastric sleeve. I had a gastric band, but it was removed in September 2017 due to a port infection. My doctor sent a referral to the bariatric program here, but it can be a two year wait for a consultation even... so I am exploring my options. Where can I go??? The thought of surgery in Mexico is terrifying, but so many people do it. Are there any other Canadians out there who had surgery elsewhere? Where did you go? How much did it cost? Are you happy? TY in advance

I think it was just my body adapting bc I don't feel like that anymore. Goodness was that a testament of my mind over stomach. I won!

HI there, I am at the same progress as you and finally got some restriction from my 4th fill last Wednesday. I cannot eat bfast but slowly eating all foods is totally working. Protein shakes is my best way to get protein in bc I am struggling to get 800 calories a day since Wednesday. I should totally see some shrinkage now. I dropped to 226lbs after being at 233lbs for about 2.5 mos. I was banded on 27 Aug 2008 I am trying to get a ticker tracker but nothing is working for me to get it posted on my posts.. 255/226/145 CHER

Heather, I had a lazy eater in the beginning and my baby was losing weight bc he wasn't getting enough milk. (Falling asleep at the boob) Ever since he was about a month old I've been having to supplement with formula... He gets breast and bottle every time. (Although just recently, overnight he will take only breast and be find until morning!) I pump at work at get about 2 oz total every 4 hrs. I have tried fenugreek, lactation Cookies, Reglan, and feeding on demand! Since I started pumping at work 4 weeks ago, I do feel like my supply has increased but very little. I eat anywhere from 2000-2200 calories a day now. My biggest setback is Water. I suck at drinking water (I always have, even before my lapband.) I struggle to get in 2-3 bottles of water a day. I go in phases of good hydration to barely getting in one bottle a day (of any liquid... I don't drink pop or juice or anything). Supplementing is working out okay for us as it has helped him gain normally again....although I really hate it because feeding time takes longer, formula is smelly and makes him spit up more, and its just a pain! I'm hoping to get my supply up slowly and possibly get to EBF but I don't have a time frame and I'm not trying super hard right now (see: pumping every 4 hours and not 2) because I'm still playing catch up at my job from when I was on leave! I will def be waiting until he is 6 months to even call my doctor and see what he recommends. I don't think my issue now is calories in...I really think its hydration. Sigh.