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My psych eval was about 10 minutes long. I couldn't believe it. He asked me things like "have you ever hallucinated or had delusions?" I don't know if it was like this because I'm a psych nurse, or they are all like that at this place. Maybe it was because I emailed the vice president of surgery in the corporation and let him know that I had been getting the run around from the bariatric center for 3 months, so they had already made up their mind ahead of time.

Victoria - Congrats to you. I have the breathing machine. Forgot what it is called? I have to take 10 deep breaths every two hours with it. That usually makes me cough and I do feel a lot of pain. I was told to grap a pillow and hug it when I am coughing. It does seem to help!

:bounce:Hi everyone. I was banded 11/8, and I felt the pain in my shoulder too. I can't imagine how bad it must have been, because I could still feel it plainly, even with Vicadin. Fortunately, it has subsided for the most part. I went to liquid Tylenol and plenty of Gas-x strips on 11/10, and I've been doing fine. The port definitely hurts, though, and I feel I need to apply pressure to it when I get out of bed, sit down, stand up, etc. I'm looking forward to the future, though, and I'm ok for now.

My name is Lindsey. I am 26 years old. I was banded in August 2009. My starting weight was 300 lbs at surgery. My current weight is 192 lbs. I have lost a total of 108 lbs. I am 13 weeks pregnant and due on April 1st, 2011. I have 2 amazing little boys at home. We have also had two stillborn daughters and lost a third daughter during pregnancy. I also have a history of genetic X female abnormalities and pre-term labor. I am considered high risk for many reasons and the lap-band is just the icing on the cake. I have lost 20 lbs since finding out I was pregnant. My doctors are not wanting to remove any Fluid at all. I have 5 1/2 cc's in right now. My OB said he would not even begin to worry until I have lost 10% of my pre-pregnancy bodyweight. That is only 1 lb away now. I am not hungry. I am trying to force food down, but I feel even more restricted being pregnant than I did pre-pregnancy. I am pretty much living on Ensure and salad :rolleyes2: My pants are no longer able to be buttoned despite the 20 lb weight loss, so I know I am getting bigger just losing weight. After all of my previous losses, this entire situation is just making me nervous. I am so glad that I just found this website as nobody on my other pregnancy message boards truly understands what I am going through and the complications that I am facing.

I learned the hard way (I usually do) that hydration is seriously important post bariatric surgery! I am 5 months post-op and my job involves walking a lot in a big county hospital. I just recently changed my work shift from swing (day-evening) to deep nights and my workload increased significantly overnight. I did not take the time to stay hydrated and over the past month, I would go as much as 10 hours without even needing to urinate. This is not a good thing. Segue to this past weekend as I was just discharged from the hospital on Sunday following my first, and dear lord hopefully last, episode of kidney stones. I cannot even begin to describe the pain involved with this lovely endevor but suffice it to say, I now prioritize fluids over everything! Fortunately, I was able to pass the buggers without surgery but I am here to tell you, this was not my idea of a good time! We are told to prioritize Protein as far as macronutrients, and this is still very important, but recognize that because we make this alteration to our diet, fluids take even more priority...you would think as a medical professional I would have not been such a knucklehead and remembered this little tidbit of data It took 7 liters of saline before my urine started to lighten up so I know this problem did not happen overnight. For those of you struggling to get your fluids in very early post-op, that is normal and it will take time but continue to persevere. For those of us a bit farther out, I hope this information prevents you from dealing with this in the future!

So it's been 10 days since my surgery and I'm down 18.8 lbs from then. Well at least I WAS. Now in like a day I've put back on 4 lbs. Granted I did just start eat the mushy food. Also, I just started my period so it could be Water weight. But either way I'm absolutely FREAKING OUT about putting on the lbs. Did this happen to anyone else? I've never been more depressed about a little weight in my life and I'm feeling completely horrible about myself.

good morning i get a fill on 3.24.09 and i currently have 6.5 cc in a 10 cc band...I havent reached my sweet spot..I feel hungry at times so i drink alot of water or crystal light... sometimes i eat some portions of nuts..fruits...etc between my meals...they probably dont want me doing this but I have to keep something in my system otherwise i get light headed..Have a good day!

My spleen was nicked during my banding and I bled and that is why I was kept over night. However, I needed no transfusions of any kind was just getting lots of fluids. I had not trouble since then. I have been tired but I think that was going back to work and 10 hour days.

At 3 days post-op, no. I was about like you... but then I decided to take it more seriously and drink an ounce every 10 minutes. It worked. Yes every time I took a sip, I could feel it go all the way down and land in my stomach and there was a little cramp every time, but you have got to keep drinking or you will end up in the ER with dehydration. It gets better every day. I still don't get all my water in every day but I'm getting better and better.. some days I get it all in and some days I don't. I am 3 weeks out.

Hello everyone, I had my surgery 11/10 and right now I am on mushy food. In the mornings I have a Protein shake, snack Greek yogurt and lunch tuna and Soup. Some nights I have a little baked fish. But honestly I don't think about food at all. My doctor wants me to have my first fill on 12/5 and I am scared of the tightness. Do you think I show postpone it until I start feeling hungry?

I had my sleeve Nov. 10. The first two weeks I had water nausea. I drank G2 & lite cranberry as my fluids. Water was too dense. I also can really only tolerate Unjury protein shakes. As a teacher, it is hard to get fluids in but being on your feet all day your body needs it. Now, I drink propel & water all day. I try to drink 10oz before school (as soon as I wake up) then another 20 to 30 at school. At home, I try to drink 30 more ounces. I am constantly pushing/sipping fluids all day. It definitely is another job rt now getting the fluids in...push through & persevere. Some days I am on target & some not so much. It's a daily process that I know will get better!

Thank you all for the warm welcome! I've never done the 5 day pouch test before but had heard from several who said it turned things around for them. First two days are liquids and it has been hard . But I want to be in control again and lose this regain and maybe even 10 more. I'll report each day. Life is good post sleeve - the best thing I ever did. I'm a cyclist now and my entire life had changed. A local magazine just did a before and after story in me and I'll try to figure out how to share that link.

It's your life and your health! It will be the best thing you will ever do for yourself. My knees are destroyed from waiting till 56 to do this surgery. I have a huge regret, why did I not do this 10 years ago. Our lives are incredibly difficult being obese, prejudice, pain and unhealthy.

I had my gastric sleeve on 10/23 and am on a full liquid diet. However, I mostly just drink my clear protein drinks since I started back at work. I've been feeling really full since I started my vitamin supplements and have a hard time getting in all my protein/water. I now feel that there is a constant lump in my throat (full feeling). I am trying to drink past it, but sometimes I get nauseated. I only urinate once a day and its very dark. I know I'm getting dehydrated, but don't know what to do. Any suggestions?

I have type one and used to take 60 units of insulin and have high sugars, now I have normal sugar levels and only take 7-10 units of insulin daily.

I was on soft foods just about 10 days I think? at my one week check they said 10 days to two weeks (14 days), but my swelling went down quickly and I wanted something - scrambled egg was my first nibble. one bit was all I could handle but it was lovely. also had refried Beans that weekend.

And you will be soon -- 10/22 is not that far off. Curious - where in CT do you live? I lived there for 2 years when I was a kid and LOVED it ... we lived in a little town called Danielson.

Some surgeons are a lot more lax than others. My doc says 10 days clear liquids, 10 days full liquids, 10 days mushies, but there's a respected program out of Cornell University that starts you on mushy foods after 3 days, if I remember correctly (you can google Cornell Weight Loss Surgery Guidelines and probably find the guide rather quickly). I don't know how comfortable I'd be with non-pureed foods my 2nd day post-op....so I'd suggest at least doing the Cornell thing to take it easy on your stomach.

Let me say first off you are not alone. All of us have dealt with eating too much at one point in time or another. Me personally, I still struggle with putting way more on my plate than I am able to eat on a regular basis. I know when I do I tend to eat more than I should. I need to work to only take as much as I need each meal. To your question, eating that fast will not make you gain weight in and of itself. It does however have the ability to stretch out your stomach faster because the food is not taking its time to move through it. Over time you would wind up inherently being able to eat larger and larger amounts which could cause you to lose weight. Here are a couple things that worked really well for me post surgery. Firstly, the best piece of advice I every got is probably one of the strangest bits of advice that worked super well. You need to eat off of baby silverware. I just went to the baby section of Meijer and bought a pack of plastic silverware. It will keep you from taking too much in one bit at a time so it will actually take you a little bit longer to eat. It will also make you well aware of the amount of food you are taking in in a bit. I should only fit on the spoon. Another thing to this is to try to make a point to chew everything at least 10 times before swallowing. You will need to work at both of this for a bit while you get used to it. It took me a week or two of eating to get fully comfortable with it. The other tip would be to divide your food serving into two or three sections and eat one section every ten minutes. If you find you still want to go after it before the ten minutes is up, put it in another room and just enjoy some dinner conversation. Eating slowly will require you to eat very mindfully over the first few months, but before you know it the process will be second nature. You are not alone in your dilemma. Every surgery patient here would be lying if they said they had not dealt with this exact same issue. Keep strong. It is a process. I know if you take these tips to heart you will do well. This is the start of your new life and your amazing journey that is solely yours. Embrace the journey and enjoy the ride. In the coming months you will learn things about yourself and you will be amazed at what you and your new body are capable of. I wish you the best of luck. If you every have any additional questions I will do what I can to help you out. You can contact me at any of the links below. Jonathan @Fat2FitBlue Blog: http://wakingupfromh...s.blogspot.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook...ealjonathanblue

You might want to lower your expectations? 1-2 lbs average per week is normal. 10 lbs is above average imo.

Mine started about 2 weeks ago @ 10 weeks after surgery. Getting it chopped off soon.

Welcome! Wow, only 19!! I'm anxious to see how your journey goes so keep us posted.. My daughter is 22 and wants the surgery but I'm afraid she's too young. Maybe she isn't!!! Congratulations and keep up the great work!!

My dr put me on the 2 week pre-op mostly liquid diet, and asked that I try to lose 10 lbs before surgery. Well after 3 days I've lost about 7.5 lbs. I'm fairly close to the 40 BMI cutoff (I only had 15 lbs before going under 40) and am afraid that if I go under the 40 BMI that insurance won't cover the procedure. Has anyone run into this? I have BCBS of MA if that matters.

Hey All!! Well I finally reached the insurance authorization ! After doing the endoscopy, psych eval, dietitian, consult with surgeon and lab work! The only thing that kind concerned me is that no one told me my file was sent to insurance verification or that it passed the board of review there at the hospital.. I called today just to check the status of my file of if I needed to do anything else and than that's when I was notified that it's already sent to insurance.. She did mention that it can take 10 to 14 days so I am trying not to keep thinking about it ! Anyone else have Anthem Blue Cross HMO in California ?? If so I would love to hear any feedback! Or just feedback in general!!

Go Kart Mozart: I was just thinking the same thing. I was sleeved only 3 months ago, but it was so nice to have this be my first thanksgiving where I wasn't dying from my post-feast food coma!!!! I even had a glass of wine. I promise you guys it's not the end, it's only the beginning. And since I've had the surgery, I don't crave the junk I used to love so much. I used to hate vegetables and love ground beef and now I am the complete opposite. You never know what your gonna get till you jump in, and 9 times out of 10 that last supper syndrome will seem silly to you once you are further out (But I totally went through it too!!). But I promise you my first post op turkey day, was the first one (not to mention the best one) I've had where I wasn't focused on the food, but more on my family. And it made it so much more worth the while!