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Oh my. So sorry you're dealing with all of this. Please keep us updated! My symptoms were vomiting nightly and daily, discolored stool, mucus in stool and massive leg cramping at night from no potassium or magnesium in my system because of the malabsorption. It took the docs WAY too long to diagnose and thus I suffered for 8 months. To the OP: The discolored stool is a big indicator of gallbladder or pancreatic problems. It's due to malabsorption. Rapid weight loss can cause gallstones and gallbladder attacks so definitely keep an eye on this and let your surgeon know. Wow, I'm so sorry. That is horrible. Are you ok now? Gosh, it irks me to know that your doctors took so long to diagnose you, especially when your symptoms are obvious indicators of a possible gallbladder problem. The same thing happened to my mom; she kept having weird bowel movements and back pain, which went misdiagnosed for so many years. Her doctor kept saying it was IBS, but she just wasn't convinced. Several years later, the back pain got much worse. One night, her back started hurting so badly that she was in tears (my mom barely ever cries, so I knew something was really wrong). My sister called 911, and she was rushed to the ER. Sure enough, it was her gallbladder. Her surgeon said that she was one of the most difficult procedures he's ever had; definite top 5 most difficult. He said her gallbladder was completely rotten, and as if it had been rotting for 10-20 years. He said it's a miracle that her pancreas was not affected. After her gallbladder was removed, the back pain went away. For years she dealt with that back pain.

10/24 sleevers...GOOD LUCK!!! :>)

Congrats on your 35 lbs ! Woo hoo ! Way to go ! I dont do well with eggs but my hubby loved these Breakfast Bites- preheat oven to 450, grease a muffin tin very well. In each well put 3 slightly defrosted tater tots and squish them down to make a crust. Bake 10 mins. Reduce oven to 350, sprinkle tater tots with cooked meats of your choice, plus chopped veggies, sprinkle with cheese. Whip together 8 eggs and 1/4 cup milk. Pour over each well, add salt and pepper. Bake 20 mins, then slide a fork under each to pop out of the muffin tin. Let cool, store in freezer. Easy to grab and microwave on busy days. Good luck !

Awesome comments and storied from everyone. I take my 60 day post of pictures today. I am down about 10 more from last month. Last week was great at 5 lbs and then nothing the current week. Just gotta keep plugging along!

I think I lost about 10-12 pounds also. However, my surgeon said he didn't even want me to TRY to lose weight until at least the first-third month post-op. He said you only need to be concerned with HEALING during that time; the (possible) swelling and the "trauma" of surgery will likely keep you from "overdoing it" during that time, as things will not go down as well and you'll feel full rather quickly. At about 3 months is when he actually was interested in starting to track my weight loss. Until then, they didn't even mention the scale!!! I think that is a good approach; you want everything to heal properlly MOST OF ALL and you need nutrients and calories (and vitamins) to accomplish that before you try to limit your body's intake. If you lose during that time, all well and good, but don't WORK AT losing during your post-op period. You'll do best in the long run if you concentrate on healing as your first priority. Best of wishes for you as you become the thinner, healthier person you will be very soon!!!

I'm being banded on 12/10

First of all it sucks typing on an iPhone. Second this may be really long. Well after missing my flight I was able to get everything adjusted by one day. So the next morning I was two hours early for the flight lol. Flight was uneventful but it was a cool 63 degrees when I arrived, I am used to 100 or more. Samuel was waiting for me around the corner and pulled up shortly in a very discreet white mini van. He's super friendly and we chatted the whole way. He pointed out a few interesting things and soon we were crossing the border. Not scary at all. A little run down and dirty but not scary. When we pulled up its not a huge hospital. More like a medical annex. Very modern and pretty. As soon as I walked in the lobby even the receptionist was asking about my flight. They were expecting me the day before so everything was ready. I got my allergy bracelet and was taken to my room. Ana the coordinator was so nice, also asking about my flight. I felt bad that they had to run around and change everything to get me in next day surgery, but she said not to worry. I signed far less paperwork than I ever did for a hospital stay. Less than 10 minutes later I was given a gown to change into and taken to blood draw. I am a hard stick so I expected a lot of pain, but she looked all over both arms for a good 15 mins before trying only twice. Because I hadn't drank since midnight on Sunday I was pretty dehydrated. Next was chest X-ray right down the hall. Then back to my room. They tried to look for a vein for the i but no luck. Dr. C said they would inly try twice because they could always do it once i was under, they didn't need to cause pain. but they got it on the second try. vI was given a pill and a sip of liquid to relax. Dr. C came in to tell me about anesthesia and to take a medical history, Dr. V came to discuss nutrition and post op care, then Dr. G came to discuss the surgery. It all seemed so fast and so sudden! I went for my height and weight. I lost 15lbs!! Wow. I went back to my room and was told I would be operated on shortly. Well three hours later and a much needed nap I was woken up and told to get ready. They brought in the gurney and I hopped on, put on my "sexy cap". Rolled down the hallway to the OR. It's very small. Not like the huge US OR. But everything looked modern and clean. I have quite a few tattoos and everyone seemed very impressed and asked me about them and my job. That must have been a distraction because next thing I knew, i was fighting the oxygen mask and I was back in my room lol. Now for the part everyone is waiting for... NO PAIN. I was prepared for so much pain and soreness I kind of freaked myself out. I had a very sore raw throat. I almost thought I didn't have the surgery! But the doctor said everything went smoothly. I slept through the night and the nurses came in with meds every few hours. Again I was shocked at the lack of pain. I even refused meds a few times just to make sure lol. One thing I had severe nausea. Every time I stood up I vomited. So there was no walking for me. But I had no gas. I guess the vomiting pushed it out. I was given a few extra bags of electrolyte because of dehydration and nebulizer treatments every 8 hours. Nausea and pain meds kept up the entire time. The first leak test, hard to describe the taste. Yucky but it goes away fast. Dr. V came in again and scolded me about walking, but since I have no gas pain or overall pain she wasn't too hard on me. I slept most of the day away until they brought the blue dye. It's a huge cup! But I was worried for nothing. It just tasted like... Blue dye. No leaks in my drain. So that's my story. Very simple, very easy. And I leave for the hotel today. Oh every nurse I had spoke English. And I speak a little Spanish so communication was great. If you have any questions about the small details, just ask away.

In a deeply emotional moment, I sat down and wrote a list in order of importance. I will share it here, in case it helps anybody organize their thoughts, emotions, and priorities. 6/25/2014 RNY Surgery Goals To be able to eat half a yogurt and be satisfied, full, and fortified. to no longer be consumed with healthy food shopping and meal preps, the miseries of weighing cabbage, and be satisfied with my minimal needs. to get off my blood pressure medication Lower my cholesterol to normal levels to beat the odds of my family’s heart disease to be able to navigate stairs without dislocating my knees to be able to walk down the stairs and see past my stomach so I don’t trip To be able to get up from a chair without leaving a sweat-spot to be able to wear dresses without leggings, and not chafe my thighs to see my knee bones and ankles to be able to pick up a tissue from the floor without waiting for more things to accumulate before bending down to be able to walk for more than 10 minutes before my heel spurs start throbbing to breathe easier for longer periods and not trigger my asthma to sing for two hours straight without throat pain to sit on the floor with my clients and play guitar. to send all my old clothes to Lisa and Beka be able to play a narrow-neck guitar play the violin without colliding my fingers enjoy airplane flights without stopping the circulation in my legs because my thighs are squeezed in between the neighboring armrests to be able to lift and move objects without throwing my back into spasms to be able to wear trendy shoes with less support be done with granny-panties to be able to buy size medium clothes on the sales rack to be a normal-looking healthy American

Cindy you made me smile! lol Keep in mind that my goal weight is 175! lol I think I have lost only 10 pounds in the last 3 months so it's slowing up. I am at 192 now-so next month I might get another fill-but I still have restriction. How are you?!

I just saw it-they didn't explain anything about the band at all except its a plastic band that makes your stomach smaller. They also asked them if they were concerned that "4 out of 10 people have complications" HUH???? Anybody know that particular statistic???

It was definitely VGB that they referred to and 40% (4 out of 10 complication rate) that CANNOT be the lap band....I don't even think the slip rate is that high!

Does anyone still look at this site? CHULA VISTA here! Jess ______________ banded 10/06/06 Dr. Ortiz, Tijuana Start 250, surgery 235

I have Kaiser. I'm able to email or leave a message for my doctors, are you able to do that? I usually remember questions after I leave my appt. I email. Usually my surgeon's PA gets back with me, but once the surgeon did himself. At my 10 day I'd lost 15 lbs. now I'm 20 days and have lost 2 more. I look at it as 17 lbs in 20 days, none of my diets were this successful. I lost 96 lbs pre-op and was losing an avg of 3 lbs weekly (some 0, some 6). Depends on that time of the month for me too. Per my surgeon, I'll be very swollen internally for weeks and need to focus on healing, liquids (64 ounces daily) and protein (60 - 80 grams daily) for at least the first 6 weeks. So that's what I'm doing. I've already had a fainting episode and "over-did" activity, trying to walk to much, too many errands, and I've become over tired and pain increased. I'm reminding myself to take it easy, day by day and weigh once a week and not really count it but every 2. (In one day my weight can fluctuate 3-4 lbs).

really coming to love this forum, so many of my concerns are answered here. My pre-op I lost 12 & post-op I lost another 12. Since then I have lost another 7. My surgery was 7/19 1st fill was 8/28, very easy to get frustrated but I am going to up my workouts

I had an awful bout with the flu a couple weeks ago. I couldn't keep water on anything down or in. After about 10 hours I was able to keep down saltines and gatorade and then slowly to more real food. At that time I had no restriction. I asked my surgeon about "throwing up" and the band and he said "Once someone has true restriction they are unable to throw up, that is why some people need an unfill or require nausea meds".

Well it has been 5 weeks today since my lap band surgery and I am lovin life. I have lost 40lbs since my surgery date of 4-10-09 and I have never felt better, I am able to workout and run 2 miles a day now and play like crazy with my daughter. Having the band put in was a life saving decision for me and I am glad to have done it so I wanted to tell all those who are thinking about the band or who have had the band and are frustrated don't worry and get it done, if you have the band just be paitent and listen to your body and modify the plan if need be and find a workout plan that works for you, all I do is 30 minutes a day and you will have amazing results.. Good luck to all and stay healthy...

There is different degrees of pain for everyone. I had no gas pain so I was lucky there but I had bad pain for about a week in the incision he took the stomach out of. But in my case he had to go through a 30 year old scar and he said it took him an extra 15 minutes because it was tough. I stayed on the liquid pain medicine every 6 hours and it was bearable. My stomach. Looked like the himalaya mountains from all the Fluid they had put in me. I gained 10 lbs after the surgery but it left again within a week and my stomach was back to normal. That was surgery but now I am 3 months post op and down 52 lbs. I am also 66 years old. You young woman will do so much better. Just remember it is major surgery but it is well worth it. I could never have lost this much weight before. Best of luck to you all. Get r done, LOL.

I'm almost 2 years out from surgery, and still losing in drips and dribbles, I've loved almost every aspect of having WLS. I've loved the smaller clothes, the CUTER clothes, the stares, the compliments, ALL of it!! EXCEPT! I would like to write a memo to the designers of pants, blue jeans in particular. Dear Blue Jean Designer People, I love your product! It is roomy, durable, comfy, can withstand multiple uses without washing, it truly is the universal napkin! My only complaint (and it really is quite a serious and big one) is pockets. I have gone from a 24 to a 4. My legs have shrunk, my thighs have shrunk, all of the junk in my trunk...has shrunk. HOWEVER, the items that I like to carry in my pockets...HAS NOT SHRUNK!! When I was a 24, I could happily carry my cell phone, my keys, chap stick, I'm convinced I could have even smuggled small animals and children in my jeans pockets. I loved it!! If I didn't want to carry it, I popped it in my pocket! My HANDS even fit in my pocket!! Now, I'm lucky if I can squeeze a toothpick and half a penny in the pockets that you make for the size of jeans I wear now. I am thouroughly disguisted! Yes, I AM SERIOUS! I cannot tell you how many times since wearing size 10 jeans and under I have left my cell phone somewhere, been left with parched dry lips because I didn't have/couldn't fit my chapstick in the tiny fold of fabric that you try to pass off as a 'pocket'. I have wasted at least 16 hours of my life digging for keys that are lost somewhere in the bottom of my gigantic purse while juggling groceries, and simotaniously sweating/freezing the death. I am convinced that you are now in cahoots with the purse industry. Since I have been able to buy smaller jeans, instead of being able to cherish the extra funds, I've had to spend it on Much. Larger. Purses. I'm onto you, and your shenannigans! Don't think that everyone is complacent about your lack of design and the sham that you are pulling! I have almost enough mind to cut out your 'pockets' and sew in my own!! I'm watching, I know, and I am spreading the word!! Give me my pockets back!! Sincerely, One Pocket Lovin' Lady

Hi tried to drink your shakes and chicken broth often at least every 2 hours 2 oz also drink water it help a lot , keep drinking you pain medication as prescribed by you doctor, it must be gas if is a shoulder pain, the sugar free popsicles help also hope you feel better, keep walking at least 10 minutes three times at day it help a lot with the pain!!

Mine goes from 3 weeks to 6 weeks I scramble eggs with cottage cheese to make it soft and it's either that or you have to have soft boiled eggs I can have refried Beans Soups with low carbohydrates and no more than 10 grams of sugar I can have pureed cauliflower carrots stuff like that. I also could have thin deli meat. But it has to be real deli meat not the processed stuff. I can have applesauce with no sugar. And skinless fruit. No grapes. He doesn't want us to mashed potatoes or hot Cereal because there's a lot of carbs after 6 weeks we can add that what you have to to fill yourself up on Protein first. I can also have soy. I bought some soy chorizo and used it as a meat in a homade chili I made for the whole family they loved it. And of course Greek yogurt under 10 grams of sugar. Same with yogurt. And a half of a banana and only string cheese. Hope I helped my doctor gave me a menu. But remember every doctor is different. Good luck on your journey ♡ Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using the BariatricPal App

I just had the sleeve 10 day ago. I do not have a thyroid. I will be on pills for the rest of my life. But as far as weight loss goes I have lost 25 lbs since pre-op so I guess it doesn't matter. If you don't have an endocrinologist, may I suggest that you go to one. They know more then the primary care.

Im dow 13 lbs since 10/31 where are other 10/31 bandster at?

What doctor did you go to? I'm in Northern NJ and am looking for a good physician. I have had two gastric bands erode through my stomach and would like to have the gastric sleeve vs gastric bypass this time. I'm not sure about going to my past physician, or possibly trying a new doctor. I have Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ and am thankful to hear that you were approved for the sleeve. Would possibly like to go to the same physician as you since you were approved for the procedure. Thanks "I have Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ and they got rid of the 6 month wait right when I went through the process to be submitted (dec 10). Before that time my friend had a revision from a band to sleeve and after 3 denials did get approved and didn't have to do the 6 month wait. Be sure to call because requirements change and you may not be aware. I was approved very quickly. Within a few days of submitting and approved the first time. I was very surprised. Good Luck"

Thanks everyone for the support. Tomorrow is the surgery - I will get this done. I am so nervous I want to cry. Since I started my liquid diet on 10/7 I lost almost 30 pounds. I feel better already, I cannot imagine what it will feel like to lose 100 plus. Please keep supporting me, my god the nerves are killing me.

Me too! I am in Coastal Connecticut and am getting sleeved 10/30 in the afternoon. No idea if it will get postponed due to the storm. Areas of my town have already started flooding....I have just finished 10days of pre-op Optifast....today and tomorrow are broth (gross) only. No idea what happens if I get postponed, or what I do...