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Yeah! I'm 10 days post op. Doing ok so far -- latest issue is back pain, middle of back, right around where the bra line is. The shoulder pain from the gas is better now, did it move to my back? any input is appreciated! :-)

I was banded on 10/25. My doctor highly recommended ordering a medical bracelet. Just wondering if most people were getting these?

So I've struggled with my weight all my life as most of the people on here probably have. I have tried every diet plan and fad diet out there. U weight loss, LA Weightloss, Weight Watchers about 20 times where at one point I did have some success about 10 years ago and lost 70 pounds which I kept off for 2 years or so then the weight crept back plus some over the last 7 or so years!! I'm at my highest weight I have ever been, well I was until I started the Very Low Calories diet about 9 days ago in preparation for my surgery next week and I am now down 7 pounds but I tell ya I have never done anything harder then this diet!! I have been an emotional wreck for the first week as I continue to cook regular meals for my family and survive my self on 3 protien shakes a day and limited veggies!! No fat, No carbs, No sugar!!! It's horrible, yes it gets easier but I can't help but have this voice in me saying "oh man ur not gonna be able to have that after surgery you should take advantage of it now"!!! I know that this diet is for my own good and health and that I need to learn self control and will power or as someone said to me on the forum the other day want power but it's so hard!! As the saying goes nothing worth wanting ever comes easy...so true!! Anyways so I'm from Edmonton, Alberta and my surgery is on Sept 26th in Vancouver at the Cambie Surgery Center by Dr.Phillip Mitchell who is from Calgary, Alberta. I am paying for my surgery myself because I want it now!!! Alberta does have a government funded program but it takes forever to get the surgery going that route and I'm afraid of how much weight I would gain waiting 2 more years to get the surgery just so I could have it for free!! So in thats me in a nut shell!!! I'm terrified (mostly about getting something stuck after the surgery that sounds terrible!!) and excited to start this new chapter in my life and I am so lucky to have a very supportive and loving husband and family!!!

I'm kind of in a whirl the last few days/weeks. I have been meaning to start exercising intensely every day and focusing on eating my veggies to get my blood, heart and body as ready physiologically as I can for surgery. For whatever reason, my body has kindof "shifted" for the worse and my food cravings and addiction-like feelings towards food have gotten more and more toxic. I walked 3 miles on Saturday (outside--prob'ly shouldn't have done that with the pollen) and I was DYING!!! My ankles have been SO puffy after each day of work. The 10 pounds I gained to qualify for the insurance have come with a vengence and I guess I got those the hard way, because they are HERE to STAY it feels like! And with them--heartburn out of my mind, breathless at the slightest exertion, and a "free for all" feeling of eating "my last" filet mignon, soft pretzels upon soft pretzels, cookie dough, mint chocolate shakes before the surgery. I feel so afraid that I will fail at this surgery and what it takes to make it successful. I feel almost clingy to my crazy eating habits that have taken me to this place. This week is a crazy week. Today I have my thyroid doctor (typical checkup), tomorrow the appointment with the lawyer to do my will/trust/power of attorney, Wednesday I have my OBGYN yearly appt and then the PCP pre-op appointment. June 2nd is the PREOP with my surgeon. Today I really want to focus on my goals for the next three weeks and really try to take back the reins for this getting myself ready for surgery.

I lost almost 40 on my own pre-op diet from April 5 to surgery day, July 17. About 10 of that was on the required 3-day pre-op diet.

I've never blogged before and thought I would start to record my journey. We'll see how long it lasts. :crying: I had my second fill today. Now I have a total of 4.7 cc in a 10 cc band. I feel better than I did last time. I got 3.3 cc last time and I felt really tight and uncomfortable for a couple of days. I'm being good and doing the liquid thing. I lost 4.5 pounds this month (actually lost 6, but had a small gain). The good news is that everything looks good, so I'm doing the right things. I know I should be happy with 20 pounds gone and I am, but I wish it would come off just a little faster. It's summer and I have to go swimsuit shopping soon. Another 10 pounds off would make it a little easier. I'm just feeling sorry for myself today. I should be telling myself to get my butt on the treadmill today since I haven't been on in a couple of days. No more pity party today. I'm doing great. I'm blessed to have been able to get the band and that I have a wonderful support system. I'll be taking my measurements later today and taking another "after" pic. I do that every time I get a fill. I need to set another short term goal to get me going. I'll decide on that today as well.

I have BC/BS NJ PLUS which is the state employee plan, if any plan would deny it I would think the government one would and they approved me with NO problems. In fact it only took about 1 week to get approval. I had a BMI of 51 at surgery time and had no co-morbidities. Plus I didn't have any out of pocket other than a $10 co-pay. If you have a referral from your Primary Care Doctor the consultation I would think should be covered as well. Good luck

That is supposed to happen - there is 10-14 day lapse before your fill takes. Don't worry

:faint:Went to my 3 week post op appointment yesterday. Boy was it pointless. I drove an hour and a half to get there and basically all he did was chew me out about how little weight I dropped. I consider 10 lbs in 3 weeks a good thing but he didn't. He said, "Well it looks like you strayed off the liquid diet..." I said, "yes - i was starving"... Apperantly that wasn't a good enough answer. Then he told me I probably made my band slip... He bascially scared the crap out of me and made me feel so defeated when I left. So, here I am so scared even to eat 1/4 cup of cottage cheese in fear of screwing up my band! HELP!

:faint:Went to my 3 week post op appointment yesterday. Boy was it pointless. I drove an hour and a half to get there and basically all he did was chew me out about how little weight I dropped. I consider 10 lbs in 3 weeks a good thing but he didn't. He said, "Well it looks like you strayed off the liquid diet..." I said, "yes - i was starving"... Apperantly that wasn't a good enough answer. Then he told me I probably made my band slip... He bascially scared the crap out of me and made me feel so defeated when I left. So, here I am so scared even to eat 1/4 cup of cottage cheese in fear of screwing up my band! HELP!

Youknowit, the rules are pretty similar to the band but for somewhat different reasons. No drinking with meals. (The reason is there isn't room, not because you can flush the food out.) Chew, chew, chew Take 20-30 min. per meal but no longer I tend to eat my 1-2 oz. in about 10 min. and I know if I slowed down I could eat more, plus I wouldn't get the foamies as much. I'm just having trouble with it.

Sounds like the personal trainer didn't work out a couple of weeks ago?? One thing my doctor told me is that you don't have to step one foot in a gym to be success with the band...we have our own gym outside! I was your size too when he said it and I lost 130 lbs in 10 months! Walking, Running and Swimming are my doctors top choices for exercise. I think if you started to walk..put on some music...it might be the best thing for you. It will get you out of the house away from the drama. Do you cook or participate in the meal preparation? If not, why don't you start? This could help you prepare more meals that are higher in protein...plus it keeps you busy. The main reason I am going to say to stop smoking the pot is due to smoking will cause you to have ulcers with your band...you really don't want that to happen do you? I wish you the very best on your journey and I am proud of your loss so far! Keep up the continued success! Take care!

I guess I dislike the mindset that this decision is the easy way out. I've lost 80 lb by diet pills, eating 1000 calories, then weight lifting 45 min a day and walking 4 to 8 miles a day in addition to my daily steps. Working out 2 hours a day 5 days a week is not sustainable. Over 10 years it crept up. I've been to many Dr's and am told my Hashimoto's and genetics makes weight stubborn. I don't think this is the easy way out by any means though. Sent from my SM-N920T using the BariatricPal App

Sassygirl, Never too late to respond. Yes I am able to wear the pre op pants and a size under that too. That crazy 6# that I had put on, Well i actually (as crazy as it sounds) lost all 6# in one day. I am not loosing fast but I am still loosing and I feel good! You were a size 10 in 5 months! That is great!

10 POST SURGERY: I find that I am still sore. I guess I should not be surprised. No magical healing potion is available. So here is the deal. I feel okay when I stand up and move around. I feel okay when I am reclining. No exercising as of yet, I do walk around.( Hopefully, I will be cleared to exercise again after my two week follow up on the 25th of this month.) However, I find I am in the most pain when I have to seat up in a chair - or seat up in a drivers/passengers seat. Generally, I start to ache after 30 minutes are so. Not sure what is happening here, but seating up hurts my left side - where most of the incisions are. I have to lean to the right to relieve the pain. Though, leaning back and to the side while driving is supposed to be cool, exude confidence, whatever, it really doesn't help me when I am driving. (The Commercials lie!) Its also not comfortable when I make a left turn. Usually, when I come in I enjoy seating in my lawn chair in the bedroom watching TV. Yes I know that sounds like a story in and of itself. ( The short version: I was looking for an computer chair to work with my computer armoire which is closer to the floor than I expected when I bought it. After a long shopping day and no luck finding a computer chair, I went to look for new bathroom accessories at Bed, Bath, and Beyond. While waiting for my mother to finish shopping, I pulled out a lawn chair and set down. It had a head rest and it was very comfortable. I bought it on the spot. I mostly seat and watch TV and fall asleep in it.) So now that I have explained that I can move on. So I try seating in my lawn chair only to discover this is not comfortable. So I go on Amazon, which owns a fourth of my paycheck every pay period, and I look at inflatable furniture. I settle on a reclined chair and ottoman set. Today was my first day using it. It works wonders. Although, I'm afraid I'm doing more sleeping than watching TV. Somehow furniture never works out like I plan. I also use an inflatable wedge to sleep elevated at night. It too works wonderfully and is one of the pieces I have bought FOR the intended purpose of sleeping. P.S. NO I DON'T SLEEP ALL THE TIME. LOL. BUT Pre-surgery, I often had very restless nights, many times choking in my sleep. I maybe got 3 hours of rest a night. Post-Surgery and Hernia Repair, I seem to be sleeping like a baby.

Take advantage of not being hungry. I am 10 weeks post op and still do not get hungry, but my doctor said it will come soon enough. I do not exercise much outside, but while I workout inside, I constantly sip, seriously a sip every couple minutes and that seems to work for me right now. Keep up the good work and exercise!

I had surgery on 8/10 and I haven't yet started to feel hungry but I'm am overwhelmingly thirsty. I can never seem to get enough water. I went for a hike yesterday and boy was that a big mistake. I was so thirsty and hot and could not get enough water. How do you guys manage exercise without being able to drink a lot of water? Any tips and tricks? At home powerade zero has helped but I'm just always thirsty...

I just had my 10 month post op appointment today. I have lost 12 lbs since last month and am at a total loss of 88 lbs since surgery. I was feeling a bit frustrated when I went in because I am feeling SO HUNGRY in between meals. Within probably 2 hours of eating, I am so very hungry. I met with my nutrionist and we went over a lot of different things today, so hopefully we have gotten some things figured out in that department. I am obviously thrilled with the success so far though. I was a size 26 in jeans the day of surgery, and I am now a size 16. I was a size 3x in shirts, and I am now an XL (and they are actually a bit big really). I have absolutely no regrets about this band...other than not getting it sooner!!

1. When you are dehydrated.. your urine smells BAD! I almost gagged the first time I went to the restroom and couldn't believe what I was smelling.. (yeah so I make sure to get those liquids in!) 2. You don't use the restroom as much.. I only go maybe twice a day. 3. Acid Reflux! I've noticed when I swallow something too quickly or if I eat that soup too fast! I get hiccups or I burp a lot. (Never had this issue before). 4. I am always cold! This drives me crazy! (I'm a little dramatic) BUT!.. I literally have to sleep with my pajamas, snuggie with the covers over my head to keep warm. (And yes I take all my vitamins). I am freezing as I am typing this now 5. Waiters/Waitresses will assume you think their is something wrong with the food when you ask for a TO-GO box. I went to BJ's the other night and ordered a soup and had just a few bites and I became full. I asked our waitress for a TO-GO box and she went into apologetic mode and asked if she could offer me another dish and so on and so on.. very nice of her.. but long story short and lesson learned.. stay away from restaurants as much as possible.. it can be quite annoying dealing with the pressure of not eating your meal. 6. Do not purchase a new wardrobe after you lose those first few pounds. You are losing weight every single day and if you buy jeans today, I promise.. they will be too baggy just a couple weeks later. 7. My advice is to not tell people you are getting/ or had the gastric sleeve surgery. I made the mistake by telling my friends and I get asked a lot of questions such as; "So are you happy now?" "Well.. when are you going to stop losing weight?", "Are you going to act different when you lose all the weight?" It's pretty annoying and people act weird for some reason when you lose weight. I swear people weren't sweatin' me at 330 pounds. 8. I still have cravings! I thought my cravings would go away.. but nope! Still there! The sleeve is really a tool to help you lose weight and it doesn't solve all your problems. I almost had a nervous breakdown because I was craving Taco Bell and I couldn't do nothing about it. But the Good News is.. once you put something in your tummy.. you are full after a few bites and the cravings goes away. But it's a struggle everyday. 9. It takes people awhile to get used to the new you! So in my case.. a lot of friends were still inviting me out to Wine Festivals, Clubs, Brunch and Pop Up Bars. Just recently, my friend invited me to go with her to a Star Wars themed restaurant and I couldn't go because I can't have alcoholic drinks and all they offered were fried comfort foods. My new phrase is "no, sorry I can't go.. I can't eat that stuff remember?" Then it's "ohhh yeahh.. I forgot.. so when will you be able to eat/drink again?". Listen. I have come too far to let ANYBODY sabotage my weight loss journey so I am quick to distance myself from ANYBODY who will sabotage my journey and my advice is to anyone reading this is to stay CONSISTENT. People will catch on and know you mean business. 10. Regret. I did experience some regret after having the sleeve because I would use food to cope with issues I dealt with. And when that was taken away, I had to deal with my issues head on. That was difficult and I wanted to reverse the surgery (which you can't) but now that I'm over that hurtle, I have no regrets at all. I have my good days and bad days. My food addiction was real. And I take it one day at a time like I am in a12 Step Program. I used to socially drink every weekend, I was a heavy marijuana smoker, I DJ on the weekends- so I would get free drinks while I'm at the club. And I stopped everything cold turkey. It's tough, but I can't deny the way I feel. I have more energy w/o caffeine, I get 8 hours of sleep, before I was only getting 4 hours, I am in a much better mood, my skin is glowing, my depression is gone, before I was taking anxiety medication and I have completely stopped that. I look and feel like a new person.. and I never want to back to my old habits. Good luck to everyone that is on this journey. You will go through physical and mental challenges but stick to it! You will never have to start over again, if you never give up. Keep at it!

Now, for the record, I am not by any means thin...YET. However, I have to admit that today at the pool, I felt really good about myself. From my highest weight, I have lost close to eighty five pounds. Since my surgery, seven weeks ago, I have lost a total of fifty five pounds. It amazes me how losing that weight has affected me. Last year I would go to the pool and try to get a chair as far away from people as possible. I would also make sure the chair was in close proximity to the steps of the pool so that I could just dart in without having too many people see me. I know people don't like to look at overweight people so I didn't want to cause their eyes to have to hurt any more than they would have to. I figured that the faster I got in, the faster I could "hide" in the water. I would have never EVER thought about sitting on the edge of the pool and chatting with a friend or walking to the far steps to get in becasue someone was hanging out at the ones near my chair. I would have waited until the people moved and then darted in to the pool. I broke all my rules today. First, I proudly strutted my stuff down the length of the pool to go in the steps that were not being occupied. Then, I sat on the edge of the pool, legs in, and didn't once think about how fat I looked and how I shouldn't be sitting there. I also didn't dart in, and attempt to hide in the water. I took my time getting in the chilly water and enjoyed myself. When I was done, I again proudly strutted my stuff back to my chair, laid down and soaked up the sun. At one point I even looked at my ever shrinking legs and thought, "Damn girl, looking good!" I have to admit, I like this new feeling. I can't remember ever feeling this good about myself. Even when I was a size 10 I was self conscience. I am sure the more I lose, the more my body image will change for the better. and I can't wait for that to happen, but for now, I am going to enjoy my time this summer at the pool or beach and continue to strut my stuff every chance I get and I hope you all do the same. Strut that stuff and be proud...sleeve or no sleeve, we are all beautiful!!!

Hi All, I am almost 6 months post-surgery (6/19/12) and have lost 87 lbs. I am now beginning to have trouble finding good low fat high protein foods to eat. I do get weak and light-headed especially when i exercise, so i question my protein intake levels. Just hoping some of you experts had some recipes or good ideas on what to eat. I am not drinking any protein shake just trying to get in by foods. How many of you who are at my stage still drink protein shakes? Thanks for any info?

Hi Fred, welcome to LBT, and congrats on the weight loss!!! I am 16 month out from surgery, and am still not wearing my original wedding rings. The way my rings are made, sizing them will be difficult as well as expensive! And to do so more than once is likely to weaken the setting. So....I am wearing a simple ring that DH bought me for our 10th, it was easy to have sized, and very inexpensive, and I wear a simple plain band with it. Not ideal, but they work. When I quit losing, I will have MY rings sized. They are a size 10 and I am now wearing a 7.5. So, I don't imagine they will get much smaller, but I'm not taking chances. As far as being bad luck, I think that is silly!!! I could have stayed as fat as I was, and been buried early with it fitting snug---or I can be without it while I get healthy, then wear it with him til we grow old together. Most have had to have rings resized, or are waiting to do so---it is often one of the first places we lose weight, it was for me!!! Here I was wanting my belly gone, and heck no, my fingers went first!!! The commitment, and the bond, and the love are all there. I love my rings, but they are nothing but a symbol to the outside world. The real connection between us is much stronger than any ring. I would rather be without it, then resize it later, than accidentally lose it forever. I vote to resize, and until then, check out Walmart, they have inexpensive wedding bands!!! Kat

Sassygirl. That is fabulous!! How long did it take you to get to a size 10. I am still having a problem putting on my pants I was wearing pre op, (all too tight then) It make my tummy sore to put the slightest pressure. So I was going by that dang scale. I will wait another week and try some pre op clothes. I know the wait will all be worth it. Thank you for the advise.