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Hello My friends! I had my lapband removal and sleeve revision done on Monday around noon. I have been home since yesterday afternoon and sadly am not one of you who has been pain free. I was hoping I was going to be pretty "ok" especially since I have a high pain tolerance, am younger and felt like I really prepared myself. I feel like absolute death! Sometimes it hurts to sip, hurts to breath, hurts to move, hurts to just be.... I know this will all pass, but I am just discouraged with the amount of pain I am in. I was sent home with liquid Hydrocodone and am allowed to take 10 ml every 6 hours... I have been using gas X pills as well. They seems to help (a little) when first taken, but definitely only about 1-2 hours long out of the 6 hour time frame. Hope everyone is well. Just focusing on getting myself better

I just found out that patients have to wait 1-2 years before surgery at the clinic I attend. I've been waiting 10 months now and have all my requirements done. I have no doubt in my mind that I'm ready and all the prep is almost to the point of overkill. I think someone would be less anxious if they have had any other type of major surgery before. There are relaxation techniques that are quite useful during high anxiety moments, such as major surgery. I had a major surgery where there were numerous unexpected complications. I had brought my favorite painting and had it placed in view so that I could concentrate on it and drown out voices, sounds of surgical tools, and pain. I also thought about the young children at St. Jude that had to go through so much more than I was temporarily enduring. Everyone is different, but I think a little mental preparation will keep you from backing out at the last moment. The newer requirements that make bariatric patients wait so long before surgery are put in place so that we are more than ready and less likely to fail.

I was sleeved on Nov.19 and have only lost 7 lbs since then. That's from official weigh in at the docs for my 2 week post op visit.the scale at home isn't budging although I can tell I've lost inches. I'm feeling very discouraged. I'm trying to move along but I'm getting depressed to the point that I'm wishing I never had the surgery. Eating is no longer fun...so I basically drink protein drinks and water. Maybe some homemade pureed soup now and then. Been crying. Not good. I see others who were sleeved when I was and they have dramatic weight lost. I actually lost more weight in the pre-op diet (10 lbs in 10 days) than I did in my first 2 weeks post-op. They tell me it's not a race but it's discouraging.

Hey guys! I had vsg about 9 months ago (June 2, 2020) and I am so happy I did it!! HW 287, SW 261, and CW 158. My goal weight is 150 (so close!!), but I seem to be hitting a stall. I can’t seem to go below 154😩. Any advice? I’m so happy with the results that I just want to do everything I can to stay like this and NEVER go back to that weight! Does anyone else feel nervous about regain so early post op? Any advice from those several years out who have advice as to long-term maintenance? Any advice would be appreciated 😊

hi som today is 7 days since i had surgery........my shoulder/neck has hurt so bad that it was all i could think about. earlier this week, my Protein shake made me feel like i was gonna be sick so my dr called in a prescrip to help with nasusa. my stomach is bruised because i have to do levonox shots for another 10 days and i am frustrated bc all this liquid has given me alot of time on the potty. i also dont read where anyone is struggling like me but wanted you to know i understand what you are going through. if you can, how about drained veggie soup? or tomato soup?? i am having alot of trouble drinking but i am trying and doing the best i can. that is all we can do. hang in there. pm me if you ever need to.

When I first started soft foods, this is what I had. Day 1 Breakfast 1 scrambled egg topped with 1 T. shredded cheddar 1/4 c. sugar free yogurt with 1/2 scoop of unflavored Protein powder lunch 1/4 c. fat free cottage cheese 1/4 c. sugar free pudding with 1/2 scoop Protein Powder dinner 1/4 c. refried Beans topped with cheese 1/4 c. fat free ricotta with 2 T. applesauce and a sprinkle of cinnamon Day 2 BREAKFAST 1 hard boiled egg 1/4 c. applesauce with 1/2 scoop protein powder LUNCH 2 egg omelet with 2 T. cheddar cheese and 1 T. salsa 1/4 c. sugar free pudding with 1/2 scoop protein powder Dinner 1/2 c. Ricotta cheese with low sugar spaghetti sauce topped with mozzarella and parmesan 1/4 c. sugar free pudding with 1/2 scoop protein powder I did not even come close to finishing any of these meals. LOL To be honest I was really scared to take the first few bites. EDIT: I forgot to mention that at 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. I had Protein shakes as my snack

Juzmejnee- I am 10 days post-op and feel the same way?! I also have to remind myself to eat.

noble199 walk walk I did that right after surgery. I got sleeved 7/16 and doing great lost 19 pounds since surgery Congrats in your new journey but walk walk

Welcome! I am not military, but wanted to say that my husband and I are also doing this together! :thumbs_up: We are using our medical insurance, but have to pay over $5K in high ded. first then 10% on everything after we hit ded. My DH is about 2 months behind me in the process and all of my stuff was turned over to insurance yesterday so I'm waiting for approval and hoping to have surgery THIS month! We did the same thing, started out going for the band because my initial research on the sleeve didn't indicate that it was a stand-alone procedure, everything I found said it was part of a 2-part surgery and I immediately didn't want 2 surgeries! Thank God for this board and all the advice that the wonderful people here have given. I think it saved us both from getting that terrible band! :teeth_smile:

I was banded on 1/5/10, and had gas pain from the moment I woke up in the recovery room. It lasted less than a week, and I haven't had any since. Hang in there it's almost done!

@@Olivia12215 I can understand your frustration. I started at a higher BMI. I thought I would be down 50lb by now. I am not losing as fast as I hoped. Still I am losing, and more than that, I am not gaining. I don't feel deprived, I am not living with constant hunger and I lost in 6 weeks what you have taken me 4-6 months in the past. Currently I am sitting at a weight I haven't been able to get below in 10 years of trying off and on. I am just hovering in this area for 2 weeks. Right now I feel like if I don't get below this point soon, the whole thing is a failure. Even though I know mentally that isn't realistic, that is how I feel. That doesn't really help you, but I just want to say I understand being frustrated.

My insurances have language that I just had to follow the facility/program's "procedure" to be approved for surgery, but they don't require any specific time frame either. So if you go to a clinic that requires 3 monthly visits, 5% body weight loss, nutritionist classes, etc... then you will have that long of a wait. It depends on your clinic and your weight, comorbidities, tests you need/already have done, etc... Mine was more just how long it took me to get my new primary insurance to kick in as well as see 1) the nurse 2) a psychologist 3) the nutritionist. They recommend 5% body weight loss, but mostly just don't want to see any weight gain. Mine went like this: Late Oct. 2019: I sent in my interest paperwork online to clinic Nov. 20th: First nurse visit Nov. 21st: Labs drawn at my GP Dec. 4th: Psychologist Dec. 11th: Second nurse visit Jan. 2nd: Nutritionist They sent in the referral to the surgeon. Jan. 29th: Surgical consult, scheduled endoscopy and surgery! Mar. 2: Endoscopy (for atypical GERD) Mar. 16th: 2 hour group nutrition class Mar. 19th: Last pre-op appt. with surgical staff Mar. 26th: Surgery day (the day I wanted anyway so I could use Spring Break to avoid using too much sick leave)

Did you follow a pre-op diet? Yes. I was on a 1300 calorie a day pre-op diet eating high protein and low carb foods. If so, what/how long was it? I began my self-prescribed diet on October 18, 2011 until I had surgery on March 21, 2012. I did not have to do the pre-op liquid diet -- my doctor just told me to continue doing what I was doing since I had lost nearly 50 lbs. I know many people use My Fitness Pal, but I discovered FatSecret.com before learning about My Fitness Pal. I used FatSecret.com to log my foods either on my computer or on my phone. I contribute much of my success to daily log-ins of my food, liquids and exercise. On a scale of "no-pain at all" to "just shoot me", how would you rate your recovery process after surgery? I was on the "no/relatively low pain" end of the scale. On a scale of 1-10, mine at it's worst was a 3. I rarely used the pain meds in the one-night I was in the hospital and only used it a couple times over the next two days at home. Now, with this being said, around week three I developed a pain near my incision that the stomach was removed from. I think I overdid cleaning out my closet, however I have also learned that many develop this pain/stitch around week 2-3 as the organs are reestablishing themselves in the body. I had odd feelings when I laid on my side to sleep as it felt like my insides where shifting so I used my tummy-pillow during week one and then weeks three-four.

I will be going through this after my Monday surgery. We discussed this topic in our surgeons classes. I got a therapist to help sort this out. I want to be slim. I will need to lose more than I had originally thought about. I am going for a 6. I have never bought a 6 as an adult. I remember being an 8 and a 10 but that was in 1985. If attention from others is making you uncomfortable then can you take the time to look into that? I won't be wearing tight clothes. It will be very strange to get attention after being "invisible" all the time I have been overweight. Also, can you post this same topic in other forums and Google this as well to get more information? I am so sorry you are uncomfortable. You deserve to be incredibly happy after being so brave! !

These are natural thoughts. You might be angry when people look at your differently and/or say you're too thin. I certainly get that. [Esp. since the DS kind of redistributes the fat around your body on many of us.] I never had much of a bust before so that hasn't changed for me. But I have no butt. And very think skin on my arms, etc. (It does make it easy to draw blood which is a good thing. They never have trouble seeing my veins, lol.) My face is also very thin. Little fat there anymore. We're all different, but many often have a different fat distribution on their bodies. As for clothes, many use thrift shops or heavily discounted outlets during the heavy weight loss phase. It's true you won't be able to wear the clothes you have now (possibly some of the shoes -- I went down a full size and couldn't.) Regarding recognizing yourself in the mirror: most don't. They still think they look big. I've found it often depends how long you've been big right before you have surgery. For instance, I'd lost a lot of weight in the mid-90s (ah, Fen-Phen ) and kept it off till the early 2000s. Then I got really big again. So it was only about 5 years that I had it back on before I had the DS. Therefore, when I had the DS and the weight came off, I saw it right away and knew what I looked like. Still do. Others I know were big for 10, 20 years. They seem to have a much harder time realizing what they look like now, post DS. Just a theory I've floated around, but often seems to fit. Friends and family: it's hard to say. I told no one except my immediate family and physicians. Still haven't. It's a personal choice and certainly not one for everyone. POSTOP: Thanks for your reply, I sure appreciate you! I have been overweight for a good part of 23 years. I did the FenPhen thing to and dropped down to a size 6. I was running every day and although my weight was 145 I was skinny as a rail due to the exercising. As soon as I dropped the pills the weight started to creep up again. I was always trying this diet or that diet and never got back below 170. About 2004 is when I really started to creep up again and have been over 200 lbs ever since and as of about 5 years ago I creeped up even further to where I am now. I have been overweight so long that in the back of your mind you wonder if having surgery is going to be a quick fix like FenPhen again. You know the fear of losing it all and then so fearful you will regain it that you do everything to the extreme to avoid that happening again. I am so nervous right now and I am only 3 days out before surgery. I noticed you had surgery in 2005, can you tell me how has life been for you for these past 10 years? Has it gotten easier to maintain the weight and keep it off? And is there anything you can advise to a newbe to this procedure?

These are natural thoughts. You might be angry when people look at your differently and/or say you're too thin. I certainly get that. [Esp. since the DS kind of redistributes the fat around your body on many of us.] I never had much of a bust before so that hasn't changed for me. But I have no butt. And very think skin on my arms, etc. (It does make it easy to draw blood which is a good thing. They never have trouble seeing my veins, lol.) My face is also very thin. Little fat there anymore. We're all different, but many often have a different fat distribution on their bodies. As for clothes, many use thrift shops or heavily discounted outlets during the heavy weight loss phase. It's true you won't be able to wear the clothes you have now (possibly some of the shoes -- I went down a full size and couldn't.) Regarding recognizing yourself in the mirror: most don't. They still think they look big. I've found it often depends how long you've been big right before you have surgery. For instance, I'd lost a lot of weight in the mid-90s (ah, Fen-Phen ) and kept it off till the early 2000s. Then I got really big again. So it was only about 5 years that I had it back on before I had the DS. Therefore, when I had the DS and the weight came off, I saw it right away and knew what I looked like. Still do. Others I know were big for 10, 20 years. They seem to have a much harder time realizing what they look like now, post DS. Just a theory I've floated around, but often seems to fit. Friends and family: it's hard to say. I told no one except my immediate family and physicians. Still haven't. It's a personal choice and certainly not one for everyone. POSTOP: Thanks for your reply, I sure appreciate you! I have been overweight for a good part of 23 years. I did the FenPhen thing to and dropped down to a size 6. I was running every day and although my weight was 145 I was skinny as a rail due to the exercising. As soon as I dropped the pills the weight started to creep up again. I was always trying this diet or that diet and never got back below 170. About 2004 is when I really started to creep up again and have been over 200 lbs ever since and as of about 5 years ago I creeped up even further to where I am now. I have been overweight so long that in the back of your mind you wonder if having surgery is going to be a quick fix like FenPhen again. You know the fear of losing it all and then so fearful you will regain it that you do everything to the extreme to avoid that happening again. I am so nervous right now and I am only 3 days out before surgery. I noticed you had surgery in 2005, can you tell me how has life been for you for these past 10 years? Has it gotten easier to maintain the weight and keep it off? And is there anything you can advise to a newbe to this procedure? You're in for some ride. Post DS life has been pretty good. I did have to have my gb removed (2008) and hernias done about a month ago. Right now I'm having some issues b/c I had to have an antibiotic shot with the hernia surgery and antibiotics are tough on DSers. I find it easier to keep the weight off post DS because I can eat as much Protein as I want. And I do. I eat every couple of hours; whenever I want. When I put on a few, I just eat more protein and drink liquids. The trick is to eat and eat and eat protein. It really helps you lose and keeps you satisfied. I always have nuts, cheeses, cold cuts in my home. Nuts are always in my bag, too. I will often go to McDonald's or some other ff place for a snack. I order a triple w/cheese & catsup. I just eat the insides and throw away the bun (too filling, don't want the carbs [usually], and the carbs give me gas & I don't want that at work, lol). My advice is be most concerned about hydration for the first few weeks. Sip, sip, sip. That's so important. I got dehydrated at about 6 weeks out. It's not uncommon. Food is less important. The week after surgery my breakfast was 1 tsp. of scrambled eggs. That was it. Couldn't eat another bite. Nowadays, 3 eggs with cream cheese and salami (it takes 2 sittings to eat it, though). Also, try to walk. I walked around the floor that first night in the hospital. I walked 4x a day in the small garden near my apt. It was tiring, but important. Best of luck to you! These are natural thoughts. You might be angry when people look at your differently and/or say you're too thin. I certainly get that. [Esp. since the DS kind of redistributes the fat around your body on many of us.] I never had much of a bust before so that hasn't changed for me. But I have no butt. And very think skin on my arms, etc. (It does make it easy to draw blood which is a good thing. They never have trouble seeing my veins, lol.) My face is also very thin. Little fat there anymore. We're all different, but many often have a different fat distribution on their bodies. As for clothes, many use thrift shops or heavily discounted outlets during the heavy weight loss phase. It's true you won't be able to wear the clothes you have now (possibly some of the shoes -- I went down a full size and couldn't.) Regarding recognizing yourself in the mirror: most don't. They still think they look big. I've found it often depends how long you've been big right before you have surgery. For instance, I'd lost a lot of weight in the mid-90s (ah, Fen-Phen ) and kept it off till the early 2000s. Then I got really big again. So it was only about 5 years that I had it back on before I had the DS. Therefore, when I had the DS and the weight came off, I saw it right away and knew what I looked like. Still do. Others I know were big for 10, 20 years. They seem to have a much harder time realizing what they look like now, post DS. Just a theory I've floated around, but often seems to fit. Friends and family: it's hard to say. I told no one except my immediate family and physicians. Still haven't. It's a personal choice and certainly not one for everyone. POSTOP: Thanks for your reply, I sure appreciate you! I have been overweight for a good part of 23 years. I did the FenPhen thing to and dropped down to a size 6. I was running every day and although my weight was 145 I was skinny as a rail due to the exercising. As soon as I dropped the pills the weight started to creep up again. I was always trying this diet or that diet and never got back below 170. About 2004 is when I really started to creep up again and have been over 200 lbs ever since and as of about 5 years ago I creeped up even further to where I am now. I have been overweight so long that in the back of your mind you wonder if having surgery is going to be a quick fix like FenPhen again. You know the fear of losing it all and then so fearful you will regain it that you do everything to the extreme to avoid that happening again. I am so nervous right now and I am only 3 days out before surgery. I noticed you had surgery in 2005, can you tell me how has life been for you for these past 10 years? Has it gotten easier to maintain the weight and keep it off? And is there anything you can advise to a newbe to this procedure? You're in for some ride. Post DS life has been pretty good. I did have to have my gb removed (2008) and hernias done about a month ago. Right now I'm having some issues b/c I had to have an antibiotic shot with the hernia surgery and antibiotics are tough on DSers. I find it easier to keep the weight off post DS because I can eat as much protein as I want. And I do. I eat every couple of hours; whenever I want. When I put on a few, I just eat more protein and drink liquids. The trick is to eat and eat and eat protein. It really helps you lose and keeps you satisfied. I always have nuts, cheeses, cold cuts in my home. Nuts are always in my bag, too. I will often go to McDonald's or some other ff place for a snack. I order a triple w/cheese & catsup. I just eat the insides and throw away the bun (too filling, don't want the carbs [usually], and the carbs give me gas & I don't want that at work, lol). My advice is be most concerned about hydration for the first few weeks. Sip, sip, sip. That's so important. I got dehydrated at about 6 weeks out. It's not uncommon. Food is less important. The week after surgery my breakfast was 1 tsp. of scrambled eggs. That was it. Couldn't eat another bite. Nowadays, 3 eggs with cream cheese and salami (it takes 2 sittings to eat it, though). Also, try to walk. I walked around the floor that first night in the hospital. I walked 4x a day in the small garden near my apt. It was tiring, but important. Best of luck to you!

Hello All! So I am currently in the pre-op stage and I have completed most of the testing. I had originally thought I would choose the GS, but have started looking into the DS. They seem to be fairly similar, but with the DS adding restriction, thus increasing Vitamin maintenance. I meet with the surgeon in 10 days and have been reading very helpful posts here, as well as reviewing the surgeon's manuals for each surgery. I have considerable weight to lose (BMI 45). I once was down to 185 lbs by counting calories and maintaining a log, but slowly gained it all back plus extra. So, I am a little worried about making the right choice the first time, as opposed to having to potentially gain weight back and have a revision surgery. This is what led me to the DS, which is the highest "rung" on the surgery ladder per the surgeon. The vitamin regiments seem fairly similar between the two, with the DS adding ADEK (fat soluble vitamins). I don't think I would have an issue with the vitamin routine. Has anyone been caught between these two surgeries,and if so, which way did you go and why? Any and all comments are welcome! Thanks in advance!

Mine was also smooth sailing i'm very lucky just you basic gas pains. I've had no vomiting or nausea, feeling great walking, I was doing so good I got to start the soft food 10 days out. I have been very carful though to. see my doctor tomorrow so hopefully i can add more soft foods, so fa I'm doing scrambled egg, can in water tuna and had salmon tonight and a mashed well avocado. Still doing yogurt and some soup , not loving the protein shakes anymore but have had some. Just seeing what the future will hold with my weight loss journey . Soi far so good!

Carbohydrate and sugars are not our friends when it comes to weight control. There are lots of people who say the obesity epidemic we are witnessing now is due to the high sugar and carbohydrate diets that have become mainstay of western diets over the last 50 years. Have a read of "Sweet Poison". I have been on a high Protein (about 100g / day) and low sugar diet for the last 7 months. I have lost 41 kilo. Whatever sugar that is in the protein rich foods I eat that is what I consume. My Protein shakes have about 10 g of sugar, the Protein Bars have about 4 grams. Whisky has some sugar as well. I keep my calories below 1000 per day - I usually like to keep them around 800-900 per day. Ice-cream = no way, chocolates = no way, sugary drinks = no way, chips = no way.

I totalling agree with you. I read these post where people say they have only lost 50 pounds in 2 or even three month since their surgery. They complain of being frustrated that the numbers are not greater. I am 27 days out and have lost 20 pounds since surgery date. Since my daughter was born almost 27 years ago I have been trying to lose weight. The most I've lost is 9 pounds and promptly gained all back. I told my doctor I hope to lose at least 10 pounds a month. I hope I do that, but I'll take 5 a month. Either way it will be 100% better than what I have tried to accomplish over the past 27 years. Heck, I'll take any downward movement of the scale.

HI ! Any one from the PNW ? I am located in Bremerton and had my surgery on 4-19-2017 looking for some support, I am having a hard time coping mentally. thank you !

Hey, I had surgery on 1/19, I went back to work full time a little over 2 weeks. The first day back at work was the longest day of my life! I was so tired by the end of the day. I would say to take a solid 3 weeks off work. It also depends on what kind of work you do. I am an administrative assistant in an out patient rehab and I do a lot of side down/stand up work. I practically get a work out in just by how often I go from sitting to standing. So my reccomendation would by for sure 3 weeks. Dont push yourself to hard to soon, I did with working out and tore my stomache muscle, its not worth it! Good luck to you with your surgery!

@@Malin Not telling you what to do..... but i gained 10lbs to be at a 40 bmi.... and would do it again. gain 10 to lose 100.... hell yess You have to leave your mom out of this situation.... she is not you. You have to make your own choices... Every surgery is different and you may not experience what she is

Hi my name is Rubie. Is there anyone else set for 4/13/10? I started this journey in January; I didn’t think I would be at this stage this soon. I'm on day 6 of my all liquid pre-opt diet. I wish I could say I didn’t cheat. I confuse and scared. I really want to lose the weight and keep it off. Just need some helpful words and prayer to keep me strong. My start weight 240lbs /at the beginning of pre-opt 246lbs/ on day 6 240lbs.:smile2: Any advice would be great. This board is a life saver. By the way this my first post anywhere I think. I try to ask a question before but could not find out if I ever got and answer or where to look. Thanks

I am starting a new job 10 days after surgery, any suggestions?