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Hi! This is my first posting. I was banded May 15th, 2004 by Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana. I am 44 years old 5'1" my banded weight was 205 lbs. I am now 142 lbs. I would like loose 10 more pounds. Except with family, I'm not comfortable talking about my banding yet. I've joined your group in an effort to change that.

That is GREAT...it is crazy when you think of what we carry and are losing. Im down 50lbs but I often think of that as 10 - 5 lb bags of potatoes. Try going to the store and picking all that up in your arms at once. It blows my mind. I can't imagine how it feel to lose 100, 125, 150 and more like many here have been successful doing....However, I do look forward to that day. Thanks for sharing that great story!

At this time I have not been sleeved and won't be until Jan 26th and that's not a huge problem but I have been on my lower carb intake for about 6 months and not doing to bad I lost 38 lbs and since my nut visits are over I have really just been cruising. Not trying to lose really but certainly not wanting to gain and I have been doing fine with that. But here is my problem............................. On Christmas morning a tradition in our family is to have fresh blueberry muffins and scrambled eggs. I know that I still want to do this on Christmas morning and I feel like a couple of fattening meals on Christmas day should not be a deal breaker. I am also working a deal in my head that says I will lose anything that I gain that day on my 10 day pre-op diet! Help me out here.

So, I've been fat for most of my life. I've been fat ever since I was roughly 10 years old, but what I considered fat then is nothing compared to the state I am at now. After I got sex reassignment surgery, my metabolism went straight to hell and my energy levels fell. I didn't make any lifestyle changes afterwards, but the fact that I didn't was a part of the problem that resulted in the state where I am now. And gaining so much weight, I likely contracted sleep apnea due to my weight gain and also contracted plantar fasciitis, which makes it harder to be out and about without my arches screaming at me. I've tried so many diet and exercise programmes, from Bikram Yoga to Weight Watchers, from marathon training to calorie counting, from parkour to South Beach. In fact, I would have continued trying if not for someone in a chat room. They told me that I should get a lap band... to which I said "why? I can exercise, I have the discipline to diet, why the hell would I need a lap band?" We had a long discussion about bariatric surgery and I decided to do my research. I first considered the programme at Denver Health. After all, I didn't know about the programme just north of me in Fort Collins (and to be quite honest, that's kinda okay given the support network I've built up there) and I thought Denver Health was the natural place to go. That and UCHealth has had... issues with serving employees of the State of Colorado. So, I went to their support groups/medical weight loss classes (which were combined), attended sessions with their psychologist and saw their nutritionist only to get rejected because I had clinical depression. I feel the problem was that since the psychologist was not my regular psychologist and did not know me nor my support network well, that made her more skittish than she should have been. I then contacted the programme at Northern Colorado Surgical Associates (which is a part of the Poudre Valley Health System and their combined programme is called the "Bariatric Centre of the Rockies") and started attending their medical weight loss classes, their patient education seminar, got my regular therapist and prescriber to write my letter, and as of Tuesday, had surgery with them. Unfortunately, I don't feel that I can attend their support groups often (as their support groups are in Fort Collins and the transit back down to Longmont after 8pm is dismal at best), but the good news is that I have found other practices in the area which have support groups that I might be able to attend. I have a therapist that I really mesh with and I have a support network from both my church and my political party (Green Party of Colorado, FTW!) And I look forward to the future. I look forward to wearing all those cute goth/steampunk clothes I see in my Facebook news feed, I look forward to finishing up my transition by having facial feminization surgery/breast augmentation (which can only happen once I get to my goal weight, if my concern is having the best results), and most pressing, I look forward to the day I can waltz into the Denver Health support groups, look into the eyes of the nutritionists, psychologists, and that bariatric coordinator and tell them where they can stick it.

I'm about 10 wks out and feeling great! The first few days, first week can be a royal pain in the #$%!!! Take smaller sips, basically get tiny bit of fluid in your mouth and llet it slide down your throat. Took me awhile, because I realized I was a gulper. Just keep sipping. The gas hurts, belly sore, but, I had to really push myself to get up and walk. Even for a few minutes at a time. I, did this as often as possible. It really helped! Hang in there, rest when you need to, walk when you don't want, and cherish this journey!!!

So i am now 19 days post op. in my mushies stage. I am not currently working so I am home all day. When I wake up I can not eat, dont even want to at all. so I drink a protien shake. then I am hungry at about 1 or 2 so i will eat 1/2 to 3/4 cup of whatever mush protien. then i will eat again around 6 or 7. then around 9pm my stomach growls and feels so empty I am starving! I feel hungry, its not just head hunger, its a little soon to eat again but really i am hungry!!! So every night nw i have been eating cream of wheat with sf syrup to sweeten it, made with milk and i also add beneprotien to up the protien content. it helps but i am still hungry after that. I try waiting an hour and then drinking fluids to help, which it doesnt really. I am also not losing any weight despite not going over 900 calories. I am getting the right amount pf protien and working on the fluids right now im at like 60. Am i doing something wrong, am i hurting myself by eating at night? if i dont eat i cant sleep because i am hungry. I am not losing at all, and i am exercising 3-4 times a week since i was released to do ....ack! HeLP!

Zero at surgery. 3 cc's 6 weeks post-op. 10 weeks post-op, another cc added. At 14 weeks (in a couple more weeks) possibly another cc.

Hello, I am in the process of started my visits and i am wanting to know what is deemed medically necesssary per title 19? I called the customer care and I was informed only my provider can request that information? If anyone can help me I would appreciate it??

Climb a flight of stairs and not have to hide being winded at the top. Paint my toenails/tie my shoes. Try on clothes/shoes without breaking into a sweat 10 minutes in. Go to a mall and buy clothes from a store with no plus size section. Hike the Grand Canyon. Go out to a fancy restaurant and actually feel like I deserve to be there just as much as the skinny people. Fit into an airplane seat again. Comfortably. That's the beginning of my list!! ????

(((((HUGS))))) First, you don't need our forgiveness. You should however, forgive yourself. I'm sure you've heard it all..."just dust yourself off and start over"..."don't beat yourself up, this is just one month out of many"..."just make up your mind and do it"...yadda yadda yadda... Heck, you've probably been telling yourself this for weeks. Maybe just posting it all and getting it all out there...your feelings of failure...your depression...your stress...perhaps this will help you get refocused. You have done SO well and 5-10 pounds back is NOT the end of the world. You are recognizing it early. You are addressing it by following up for a fill. You are taking control. Give yourself some credit for that. On another note...perhaps some anxiety or depression meds are needed (or need to be adjusted). I see you are in therapy, but didn't mention if you're also on a med regimin. Sometimes we need meds and sometimes those meds need adjusting. If you're depressed to the point is affecting your sleep and anxious to the point it's affecting your job...then it's worth considering. Hang in there sister! You've made remarkable progress and lost a lot of weight. Don't let that 5-10 pound indescretion define you. You can and will work it out

LEO, CONGRATULATIONS!! YOU'RE AN INSPIRATION. CATHY BANDED 3/22 276 10/03 227/?

From what I have heard the Med Grp decides if you are approved for the referral letter and once BCBS has that you get the surgery. The nurse told me not to lose much weight during the diet or I would not get the referral. What med grp are you with? My med grp used to have a 12 month diet for HMO and 10% wt loss but recently changed that because so many people were complaining. Im sure some day these 6 month diets will be a thing of the past. I have a 25 year diet that I could tell them all about.:thumbup: Please keep us posted on your progress.

Just wanted to let you know that there are a couple of other doctors in the Columbus area. They work in the Mount Carmel Hospital system and their practice is Mid Ohio Surgical. I think the names are Timothy Price & Philip Custer. I'm not 100% sure of the first names but I know the last names are correct. I called OSU and they tried to convince me to choose the bypass, so I got away from them quick. I am going to Dr. Duckett in Maumee Ohio because of insurance reasons. Good luck in your journey! My surgery is scheduled for Jan 19. Sheila

Hi I lose about 6-8 pounds fast and then I "adjust" (lol) for about 10 days.Then I lose fast again and thats been my pattern.Dont do long stalls. How much weight have you lost?You had your surgery about 2 weeks after me.

NYU dietician suggested up to six premier Protein shakes and 2 cups of vegetables a day. 2 tbsp fat free dressing. coffee with artificial sweetener and skim milk, sugar free popsicles. No carbs. I lost 10 pounds in two weeks and was never hungry. Those shakes are the best ones IMO. Sent from my Nexus 10 using the BariatricPal App

I am 10 weeks post op. I never lost my hunger but this last few days the hunger pains have been really intense. So much so that before a meal my stomach hurts because of hunger, a bad pain not just rumbling. Then the hunger returns less than an hour after eating. I don't drink with meals and I eat my protein. I tried taking tums to help and it helped a little but it's still there. I'm getting 700/900 cal and exercising daily. Does anyone have any suggestions? Yesterday I felt persistently hungry all day even though I ate 1000 cal.

I had it on 10/23 and have had a rough go of it. Seems my stomach didn't like being messed with. I had to stay in hospital for four days and am slowly improving. Some cramping but am told that is because I was drinking too fast and too much at once. Hope this bad feeling isn't permanent. Too sick to enjoy the weight loss yet....hope for a better week!

I WAS BANDED ON 2/19/08 AND I HAD TO BE A CLEAR LIQUID 24 hours and full liquied 1 week now I can start with mushies. IT IS SO WIERD HOW ALL OF OUR DR'S HAVE DIFFERENT DIET RULES. WOW, SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO BE ON LIQUIDS FOR WEEKS!!! ANY HOW, I HAVE NOTICED IF I JUST GO A TAD OVER MY 2 OZ'S AT A TIME I WILL GET A PAIN IN MY SHOULDER. IS THIS LIKE A WARNING SIGN THAT WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE OR IS IT JUST POST OP??

Hi all, I am not often a poster, but I figured that if there was any group I might feel comfortable with, this should be the one. My name is Gary. I have a marginal BMI (39) for the surgery, but enough co-morbidities to make the grim reaper drool on his scythe. Thus my HMO gracefully allowed my band. Its been 10 days and I though I am only on the liquid diet, I am chafing at the bit to expand my intake. I actually gained 10 pounds of Fluid during my 36 hours in the hospital, and lost that and another 6 or 7 in the 8 days since. Since I am only at about 500 calories, I have stopped losing, but I hope that will change with the next diet phase soon. I see my nutritionist tomorrow. Anyway, I look forward to reading all your stories, comments and concerns. Just my opinion... I could be wrong! Good luck everyone.

I had the same feelings of hunger all the time! I was taking protonix and my stomach would still grumble. I would eat every few hours, all Protein to try to fill me up and last longer. I have to say now at 10 weeks out the hunger pains have lessened quite a bit. In the last few weeks I eat and I'm not even hungry. I know lots of ppl didnt feel hunger for the first few months, but I was the opposite. I know they make other proton inhibitors, maybe trying a different one would help? I'm not sure but for me it was just a waiting thing and it got better over time.

Hello, Everyone! New here...so glad I found this site!! I have been researching the Band for years and was going to have it done in September, but have changed my mind and am now doing the SLEEVE! Yay! So, SO 'cited :Banane03: My only questions are these - since I knew all the 'Band rules' inside and out and was totally prepared for that way of life, I need to figure out the "Sleeve Rules". For instance, with the band, you need to chew, chew, chew and then when you think you're done, chew some more, until your food is basically mush before you swallow. Also, your bites need to be really tiny, toddler-food style. All this to avoid getting stuck since your stoma/stomach opening is so restricted. Also, you cannot eat 'slider' foods or drink with meals as this will wash out your pouch of food, leaving you hungry again right away. No Soup, no 'runny' oatmeal. :sign44: And the other big band rule, you can almost never eat bread/pasta/rice, etc again as it's gluey and starchy and will get stuck, also. Now, don't get me wrong here! I don't need a lecture about how you shouldn't eat those things anyway, as I know that, very well - been dieting for years, just like most of us . But my reason for doing this is so I can be a 'normal, regular' person and eat like a 'naturally thin' person. LIke the nutritionists, say, be good 90% of the time, play 10% of the time. Those times I may want to splurge and have a half sandwich, or some Pasta, or a piece of pizza, I want to be able to have a little bit every once in a GREAT while - like I said, be normal!! One of my main reasons for doing this is so I can have a normal, healthy relationship with food. Not obsess over soup or a roll, or stress if I'm going to party for crying out loud!! And no popcorn, my favorite food!! :scared0: So, Sleevers, aside from the fact that you need to obviously eat slowly and we all need to take smaller bites and chew more within reason, are these things such a big deal with a sleeve? I am guessing it's not AS imperative since the stoma/stomach opening is not made any smaller with the VSG, but I don't know for sure?? Any band-to-sleeve revisioners that can outline the differences? And, honestly, do you vomit if you eat too much, or don't pay attention to yoru full signals? With the band, vomiting and "PB''ing" are VERY common, but how common with the sleeve??? Thank you guys, so very, very much, for all your willingness to help, support, and share with us "newbies". SO many of us would be lost without our experienced trailblazers to lean on. Love you guys and so glad I found a 'home!" Started 6 month supervised diet - 3/11 Psych Eval - 3/11 Band Surg Consult - 3/11 VSG Surg Consult - 6/11 (Dr. Lauter) Final Insurance Approval - ?? Surgery Date - 9/?/11?

Yeah, you'll feel that way, as far as no appetite. I didn't start really having an appetite till about a week after the procedure. I mainly stuck to drinking Propel Zero water (for some flavor) as I was concentrating on getting over the gas pain. If no one has mentioned, buy some Gas-X strips. I didn't discover the power of these strips until I was just about over the gas pains, lol. You won't regain most of your mobility (as far as stretching or moving around) until around 10 or so days after the procedure. Of course, these are ballpark figures, as recovery varies from person to person. Just try to take it easy, and do a little bit of walking around to help dissipate the gas.

I had surgery on 8/16. I read and read and read entries on this site. It made a world of difference for me. I was on a 2 week pre-op, almost harder than the surgery itself. On that morning, I was scared and apprehensive. Praying did calm and center me. When I came in, they asked a lot of questions I answered 13 times already...lol. What meds am I on? What's my name and date, checking the wrist band. Met with various nurses and Drs that "prepped" me. Got my IV. Surgery was done about 2 1/2 hrs after I arrived. It took about 1 hr 15 min. Woke up in recovery room, felt kinda like hit by a Mack truck, just confused, out of sorts, thirsty!!! Once in my room, got the pain pump. Used more in the first 3-4 hours and tappered off to maybe 6-8 "hits" per day. Pain went from a 9 to a 6 in a matter of a few hours, then down to a 4. I asked for no bladder catheter, I get bad UTIs. So schlepping all the stuff (IV and pain meds stand) in and out of the bathroom was a nuisance. I walked around the unit twice that day. I stayed 2 nights because I had issues with my heart rate dropping. The 2nd day walked 4 times around the unit. Ate minimally while I was there. Rested on and off. Was very bloated. I had to keep mindful that the first week wasn't about weight loss, but recovering. Detoxing from the anesthesia and meds took a few days too. Now feeling really good. The "worst" is behind me and I can't wait to getting better and better and more "normal". It's just a couple weeks of inconvenience, sacrafice and being uncomforatble for hopfeully a lifetime of better living. Good luck, we're all here for you. Keep us posted. Melinda Sleeved 8/16/10 by Dr Lynch HW 333, pre-op diet start 323, surgery weight, 309, weight today 300! Yippee!!!

Geoff, Had to do a double take on your surgery date. It looks like 10/2013. I assume you mean 10/13/2014. As the others have said. First off, follow your surgeons guidelines. That being said, I have been going to the gym and doing cardio and complete weight regimens since 6 weeks PO. And I'm sure that without the workouts, this whole sleeve thing would not be working for me. Some cautions. - I had a unbilical hernia repair during my sleeve and subsequently avoided any strenuous stomach type exercises for a few months. And when doing workouts, keep the hydration up. Another point to keep in mind is to be able to build any muscle during the process and certainly avoid losing any while losing fat weight, you must get in your Protein. I do whatever is necessary to get in at least 100 grams of protein a day. At six months my weight loss has slowed alot, but my workouts have not. As I get stronger, I am able to do more and even with the low calorie diet, I need to maintain the workouts in order to keep losing weight to reach my goal. The process has convinced me that even when I reach my goal, exercise will be the only way of maintaining my weight and avoiding any weight gain. Good luck with your surgery. Keep us posted with your progress. FYI - Check into "My Fitness Pal". Makes it easy to keep track of your diet, your workouts and your weight goals.

Congrats!! My surgery is also on June 6th, Pre Surg class on the 5/19, Pre op on 6/1 and Covid on 6/3. Good luck and congrats again!!