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I'll be 64 on October 1 & just had my sleeve four days ago. I wish I could have had this done many, many years ago, but I had to wait for medicine to get to where I needed it to be. As a nurse I was just never comfortable with the malabsorption aspects of gastric bypass & I was excited to find out about the VSG & that my insurance covers it. I researched the surgeons covered by my insurance & made the call. My doctor is particularly strict & I have followed his instructions from my first consult on April 25. From the time I left his office that day I was on a high protein/low carb diet until 2 weeks prior to surgery when I went on a modified clear liquid diet of 4 Protein shakes & all the Clear liquids I wanted a day. I had also done a 1-week "trial" of the clear liquids back in June to see how I tolerated it. I took that 3+ months to wean myself off of caffeine & carbonated drinks by having a little less each day until I was off & can honestly say I haven't missed them. My starting weight at that first consult was 303 pounds & the day before surgery I was 259! A loss of 44 pounds in just under 4 months! I do weigh myself daily on my Withings WS-30 digital wireless scale but I don't obsess about the numbers. As expected, I did gain "Water weight" in the hospital & went up to 264.9 pounds. But, today, on post-op day 4, I'm down to 263.6. I never expected to be able to lose the 10% of my weight pre-op as I've always been one who not only gains back what I lose but have a very difficult time losing in the first place. I am continuing to follow my surgeon's instructions to the letter because it sure has worked so far.

I just found this website today. How terrific! I started going to the support group at the hospital I had my surgery at, but all the other participants had gatric bypass, and it is SO different from the band. I am really happy to find a community of people that are going through the same thing! I had my surgery on 8/18/10, so it has been 6 months since surgery, and I have lost 40 pounds so far. My clinic is fantastic, but I have found that they are quite conservative about fills. A friend of my that goes to a different clinic (she is three years post op) has a way more restrictive fill level than mine is. I haven't had a fill for two months now (I have lost enough now that I can definitely tell I am due for a fill again), and she has told me that she can barely eat anything for weeks after she has a fill. Is anyone else having this experience?

Hi everyone i have enjoyed reading so many posts, thought I should introduce myself. I got a band put in 2009, weight 260lbs. It worked pretty well, and I held a weight I was happy with, 175lbs, for some time. Then, a cancer diagnosis and imminent chemo led me to have it emptied. Ended up not having chemo, just surgery, so began the process of getting filled about three years ago. By this time I lived two hours away from my surgeon, by plane. So, after fill after fill he realised the port was broken and leaking - a faulty batch. Two years ago, port replacement. But I have never hit that ‘sweet spot’ again. I now have no restriction at all, but a fill leaves me with chronic shoulder pain, with no taste or other symptoms of reflux. Two years of this, plus an internal port abscess, and I have given up. My weight is up to 230, and it is time for action. Those lovely 175-lb-body-clothes are crying out for me!! So, 14 December, RNY surgery of the Fobi Pouch variety. Bit nervous - the surgeon does these only with open surgery, not laparoscopic. So 6 days in hospital. Anyone here have open surgery so you can tell me a bit about the recovery? I have some nervousness!! xx

HI I went to a seminar for a surgeon in Pinehurst as well as the one in cary and I was way more pleased with Dr. Enoch's staff in Cary. They have a support group once a month in Raleigh at Rex Hospital. I found the doc in Pinehurst to be more into Gastric Bypass. There's also a difference in the quality of the band dr. Enochs uses. It's a lot better. We got to see the difference between both at the last support group. My sister had surgery year ago in Georgia and she's had great success so I've decided to do the same. Good luck to you. I'm scheduled for Friday August 22,2008. I'll keep in touch thru this site to update.

I am scheduled for conversion from Band to Bypass with gallbladder removal on 5/21/18. I am very nervous but really want to move forward with the surgery. I'm looking for others who are scheduled around the same time. -Amy

Im 5 "9 also and according to my doctor should be 150. The thinnest ive ever been as an adult was 185 and i still thought i was fat, but looking at pictues of me at 185 i looked great! I had a bypass 12 days ago and have lost 18 lbs im now 207 and am going to try my hardest to get to 150!!

Hi Texas T I hope u r still doing well. I did a consultation with Dr. Barker and it looks like I will be utilizing his services. I still like Dr. Nicholson's practice too but the process seems to be taking so long and Dr. Barker's office is so efficient and the process has already started. I will have all the insurance requirements completed by November and hopefully have the procedure by December. I had so many questions for both physicians and I appreciate that they both took their time and answered them all. I never felt rushed and I appreciate that with both physicians as this is a big step. I've also heard good things about Dr. C. Kennedy but I don't think I will pursue just because of timing but for anyone reading the post u may want to check her out but I did hear that she was very strict. Well all the best to u.

How things can change in a week! A week ago on Friday I learned that my chosen doctor was not a participating provider with my insurance company, even though my first phone calls told me he was. I felt that I was back at square one, and all the poking and prodding that I went through for the pre testing would be wasted. I called the surgeon's office, and they told me they would "look into it" and get back to me. I never heard from them. I decided to call the case management department of my insurance company. The nurse they put me in touch with was wonderful. She listened to me and researched who exactly was covered and participating. She gave me phone numbers and contact names. I was put in touch with Orange Regional Hospital in MIddletown, NY. They have been nothing short of amazing and wonderful. The care coordinators have worked closely with me to get all of the information transferred, and to set up the remainder of the appointments. I actually have a tentative surgery date set for July 18! I can't believe it! Right now I am going back and forth trying to decide between the sleeve or the bypass. I thought I was ok with my decision to do the sleeve, but the new surgeon made some good points, and I have started doing more research. My support group feels that the sleeve is the best, but I'm not sure anymore. I'm hearing people are hungry all the time after surgery. I'm thinking that this may be more psychological....my body is so used to eating (and in my case eating too much!), is it just craving what it can't have? I know the sleeve removes the part of the stomach that produces ghrelin, does that really make a huge difference? One of my most favorite things to do is to go out to dinner, especially at the end of the week. I guess this can still happen, the shrimp cocktail will become the meal, not the appetizer. I can't stand the way I look, and I don't believe I'm making a hasty decision. I have researched and soul searched. This is the right thing to do. I worry I'm not emotionally strong enough to stick to all the life changes I need to make. I want to be healthy. I want to look better. I want to have energy. I want to be able to shop at Victoria's Secret, instead of being told "we don't carry larger sizes here". I want to find outfits I love, not just things that "will do". I want to develop a positive body image and a healthy relationship with food. It sounds easy enough. I guess it's like smoking though. I used that as a crutch for years. The cigarettes were there for me during stressful times. I will have to learn a new way of thinking, and new ways of socializing and relaxing.

My insurance had the same requirement but I was able to bypass it. Luckily, I've had the same PCP for 20 years and he had already seen my numerous attempts.

Welcome!! I was banded back on April 5, 2011. So far I am down 50lbs. And I have to say this was the best decision I have ever made in my life. I have no regrets, so far. I chose the band verses any other bariatric surgery because it is one with the least complications and it is removable! Plus you lose the weight at a more healthy pace than lets say gastric bypass. I also have 3 children and they are my world. My mother died at 48 from complications from obesity. When I hit 30 I realized I was very close to ending up like my mother. I was pre diabetic and hypertensive. I refuse to die at a young age. I did not want to leave my family that young. My mothers death tore apart our family. I am now at a healthy blood sugar level and have good blood pressure again. I am now 31 and have a better prospect for my life than I did a year ago. I still have about 120lbs to go before I hit my goal weight but I have no doubt I will make it. Good luck on your research! This is a fantastic forum to get any info you need. I have been addicted since I first found it. Great support system here! Karrie

You sound quite young since you are depending on what mom and dad are saying about the surgery. I on the other hand am old enough to know better, I am 58. Before we left New York I was okayed for gastric bypass and did not want that but the band and after going through all the hoops and testing was okayed but backed out at the last minute just before we moved to AZ. I thought at that time that it would be easy to get approval out here when I started working and could get the band. Well, it took another 2 1/2 years before I could get the approval for the band and my Dr. specifically said that gastric was not the answer for me but the band would be better. The Dr. was so right and I am thrilled to be in the position of not being on a diet and at almost 3 years of being at goal, I feel like a million dollars. Go with your heart and the Dr's advice on what is best for you and do it. I wish I had done this when I was young instead of doing the yo yo dieting thing for my whole life. Good luck in your decision and just keep a positive attitude in whatever choice you make.

Hey. I looked at your profile and saw that I was only a few months older than you. I can understand how parents can have a big role as a support system, but it is your life. If your mom was supportive of you getting gastric bypass, then she should be OK with you getting the band. Maybe it's because you've backed out of WLS before, and she wants to make sure you're serious about it. My parents aren't thrilled about the surgery, but they understand my weight struggle. My dad has brain cancer, so understandably my WLS surgery and journey aren't much of a priority and is on the back burner in my family. I will be doing this mostly on my own. It might be hard, but it's doable. Just try to explain to your mom how you've tried Weight Watchers 2 times before, and it didn't work. The band has you lose weight the "real way", but you have assistance and something to fall back on so you don't fail along the way. It doesn't do the weight loss for you- you do it on your own.

And yes, weight loss is quicker with the sleeve over the band. When I went in my doc says I am losing like a bypass patient, guess they lose a bit quicker than sleeves she says. Woo hoo!

Aloha! I'm misty, and I'm a mom of 6. I chose to have the RNY gastric bypass and I am also still in the beginning stages of my journey! Happy to follow urs as well. I can't wait to hear more from u and see how ur doing. This is so exciting! People choosing to take the time to care themselves.... Just awesome! I look forward to getting to know ya!

Hi everyone, I hope im doing this right. I've decided to join and get some support. I had lapband surgery on 4-18,and I have lost 11 pounds since the surgery. I started with a physician (not the surgeon) weight loss program for three months as directed by my insurance company. I lost about 10 pounds on it. After the three months, I went to see the surgeon, Dr. John Baker, prior to my surgery date. He put me on protein shakes for two weeks prior to the surgery and I lost 15 pounds. The day befor surgery, I did clear liquids and lost a few more pounds, so i'm looking at about a 30 lb loss since February. It was recommended that I have gastric bypass for the amount of weight I have to lose, but I was totally against it. These past 12 days have been interesting. My core has been especially tender, but im walking 40 minutes per day as the doctor instructed. I am on sugar free, fat free full liquids. On Thursday I can advance to soft diet and I am excited. I am almost ready to come off of my BP meds ALREADY!!!!!!

Hi Samcl1, Yes doing ok thanks, 6 months out and 4.5 stone lost so far. Still have hunger, which is unusal for bypass, but had it since day 1 of surgery. Have dumped a few times on small amounts of fat and carbs, but other than that feeling so much better and no regrets :-)

Hi everyone! My name is churchmouse and I was just banded last Friday, the 21st of November 2008. I'm 53 years old and wish I had done this years ago. My highest recorded weight at the Dr.'s office was 253. I weighed in at 204 the day of surgery. I'm looking so forward to a new lifestyle and a whole new life. This is the best thing I've ever done for myself. The only pain or problem I've had so far is the sharp upper chest pains associated with gas. I'm talking "take your breath away" pain. Can't wait for that to go away. Anyway, just wanted to introduce myself. Wish me luck, Churchmouse

Well i am almost there I assume. 6 month doctor diet check, mental health check, meeting with doc.. check and check. Tuesday I go in for a throat scope while my final paper work is processed and my date will be set for surgery. So i am guessing i will have surgery before mid November can't wait !

I do have a primary care physician but I never once said anything to them about my process. Actually - I still have not contacted them and I was banded on November 10th. I really like Dr Eagon and his staff! It was a 7 month journey for me but I am 6 weeks out and down 13 lbs which is the most weight I have lost in 6 weeks in 10 years. good luck and if you have any questions feel free to ask!

Oh so excited I cant believe it I have hypertension never ever had it and borderline diabetic so I know this is the right decision tomorrow pulmonary.. cardiologist and psych clearance and nutritionist and then I get my date once insurance is done for NOvember Dr said yay nervous excited !

I had my gastric bypass on March 22nd. The surgeons and other people say I should be re-introducing soft foods into my system. Some days I can eat pudding Jello yogurt....and some days even broiled/grilled chicken. However for like 2-3 days I haven't been able to eat anything. I'm barely even drinking Water. I force myself to so as not to become dehydrated. Before the surgery, I was on a partial liquid diet and I drank glucose controlled Boost and Glucerna shakes. Do y'all think it would be ok for me to resume drinking them just to get some type of nutrients in my system? Even the Protein shakes come back up sometimes and the water based ones are just gross. I went from weight 403 to 377 in 3 weeks. I don't see a difference but I feel it in the way my clothes fit [ATTACH]36[/ATTACH]

I started this journey about six months ago when I attended my first informational meeting at MMC. Now here I am getting ready for my surgery. I have struggled all my life with my weight since age 6. I have been on many diets and thought there was never going to be anything that worked for me. I had never considered gastric bypass surgery so when my physician suggested it to me I was very interested. She had seen me struggle through the years exercising losing and gaining .... I had always thought gastric bypass surgery was not for me because it would mean I was weak and unable to do this on my own. I am so happy to find out that that's not the case at all. It is especially for me! And I deserve it and I'm worth it! my surgery is scheduled for May 30. I am on my preop diet now. It is harder than I thought but I know what will be worth it!

And here is the November 2008 forum: November 2008 Bandsters - Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum

Hi Lauren, We do have a November Banders Tag Line started. It is Nortorious Novembers. when are you scheduled? I am set for Nov. 14 and I am ready. The waiting is driving me crazy. Good luck..:sad_smile:

Hello I was banded in the Dominica Republic. Everything is going well. There have bee a few times I have been hungry. I think the key is to carry your protien shake around with you, so you don't get caught out somewhere and get really hungry. I have started walking 1 hour a day and am feeling fine. Rose