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I did 6 weeks, no cheating about 4 years ago in a medically supervised weight loss program.

The surgery was easy. I went home the same day. By the middle of the following week I started to feel that taking in fluids and protein was a chore. I didn't want to move away from my recliner. That was the first signs of a problem. My reasons for surgery were that I am a diabetic and had an aortic valve replaced in my heart eight years ago. That surgery was tough. The heart valve is a composite material that requires me to be on blood thinners for the rest of my life. In preparation for the Lap Band my Dr took me off of the pill form of thinner and had me using an injectable thinner twice a day. The day of surgery all of the surgical team were happy with the INR value of my blood. After surgery the surgeon assisting my Dr came by to discharge me and said that they had a tough time with bleeding. By Thursday of the next week my INR level was coming up but I was not feeling the greatest. That evening I blacked out when trying to get up from my chair. I asked my wife for her auto blood pressure machine only to find that my b/p was 65/45. I called my Dr and he said go to the ER. The paramedic on the ambulance told me that he would try to help me feel better before we went to the hospital by giving me IV fluids. Three liters latter my bp was the same. I was brought to the local hospital given whole blood and transfered to the hospital where the surgery was done. Ten pints of blood, several bags of plasma and many liters of fluids I'm back to making a good recovery. Don't look at this as a minor surgery. This is serious business and please think to ask about what kind of problems can happen to you and be ready.

Nurse Sophie I'm only trying to make people aware of potential problems. Your right my blood thinners and medical history only complicated the surgery. I just thought that I'll be out of work for a week and everything will be fine. Most people will do fine. Just keep the fact that surgery is not always cut and dry. Thanks for your comments.

Hello, my surgeon wants me to complete two weeks of Optifast before my surgery at the end of this month. The closest place to get optifast brand is 100 miles from me. (although i've seen some on ebay). I was wondering if anyone out there used something different. A nurse in his office told me that as long as it's comparable it would be fine. Maybe some of you could help this newbie out by sharing with me what you used before your surgery and what you thought of it. Thanks a bunch!

Man, I really can relate to so much of this. I do a "chew and spit" thing all the time, too. Not only do I not enjoy food but the process of planning what to eat or forcing myself to eat is extremely anxiety-inducing for me, too. I didn't have all of these complications you had to deal with, but from day 1 I've had a really (irrational) intense worry that my new stomach isn't strong or that if I get something stuck it will just tear or explode... things that don't even really make sense or have any chance of actually happening. I feel much, much better when I restrict my calories. Maybe not physically. But mentally, on the days I have some reason (whether real or invented) to greatly restrict my calories, I feel like I'm doing well. The days I actually eat 1000-1200 calories - I've only had two of these days - I feel absolutely horrible and the urge to drink nothing but a Protein shake or two the next day is almost unbearable. The fact that I do lose more when I starve and stall or gain when I eat enough, coupled with how good my bloodwork still looks, just reaffirms my positive reaction to not eating enough and my anxiety and self-criticizing just pushes me further away from actual physical health. I'm in therapy too. Let's hope we both kick these problems in the ass in the end.

For those of you who are planning to use TRICARE Prime, today I discovered the stipulations and thought I would share. I am required to see a dietician and exercise expert for three months and receive a psych evaluation. Of my dietician visits, I must visit at least once with the dietician on base.

I'm so excited! I meet with the surgeon on May 20th to set a date...I'm praying for the first week of July!

Hey guys. So I'm totally freaking out. I was sleeved on 3/30/16. Was doing great up until last week, I've plateaued so bad. SW- 256 CW-202. I can't seem to move away from it. And I notice I can eat more at one sitting, this happen to any one else? Do you guys think I stretched my sleeve out already? I got another 60 years to live with this thing! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I am 8 weeks pregnant and 5 months post op VSG. Was told I would NEVER conceive and have PCOS. I am elated and terrified!! I am seeing a high risk Obgyn who has assured me everything looks great! I've heard the baby's heartbeat and already seen an ultrasound. What a gift!! I feel no different right now, no morning sickness or cravings. Just a little more sleepy and BREAST THAT I CAN NOT TOUCH from being sooooooo sore. Does the soreness go away anytime soon???? Highest weight was 283 I'm currently 191 ~ was hoping to get to goal of 175 ~ it'll happen. I still do step aerobics. Just finished a 5 week bootcamp ~ found out in middle of camp I was pregnant ~ just did modified exercises for the rest of class. I feel the exercise keeps me going and energized for the most part. I'm a different person from 5 months ago ~ I love to exercise now! Best wishes to you all!! I hope to update monthly on progress and gains. Pic is 283 / 191

Good luck...you must be so excited. I have a date of the 10th....less than two weeks now. It's a little scary but am very excited.

Hi everyone! After months of waiting, the big day is exactly a week from today! If your surgery date is near the 4th or on the 4th of January, please shoot me an email! I need the support from all of you, and it would be nice to have a sleeve buddy! Day 1 of pre-op diet! Scary but exciting! Good luck to all of you!

HOLY MOLY - I got a call from my surgeon's office this morning. My pre-cert nurse still said he hadn't gotten their fax with my 2 year weight history...BUT, she asked if she could give him the info over the phone and he said "yes"! So I am delighted to say I was APPROVED!!! I'm still reeling! Next step is the last appointment with the surgeon which may be the week of Sept. 19 or 26.

Yes, if the pain is troublesome definitely call your doctor. It would help to know when you were banded, I had various pains for about 1 1/2 -2 weeks which is normal. For the first few days, incision pain while changing positions is very normal. Port incision pain will be the worst and last the longest.

I am a 25 year old male who is about 5'11 and 257 lbs. I have high blood pressure and suffer from anxiety/depression. I have UHC insurance who covers all but 150.00 of the insurance. I have been considering lap band surgery and have received a lot of negative reaction from people saying that I am not fat enough for this or that I should just diet and exercise. But people dont realize that I have been overweight most of my life. I am tired a lot, short of breath, and just feel bad overall. I am out of breath after just walking up the stairs of my apartment. It seems that no matter how much I sleep at night I feel like I could sleep more during the day. But I have read a lot of things on this site that have worried me. I have read about people who get the band and still gain weight or loose nothing. I have read about people who get sick off of about anything they eat. I also would like to know what can I or cant I eat long term after the surgery and after the first 6-8 weeks? I know I have to eat better but I still would like to enjoy some different types of foods and I dont want to be stuck with only being able to eat a select few things. I guess overall I am just nervous and dont know what to expect. I have already attended the seminar and I have an appointment on April 4th.

I have GERD and so i have been on a "restrictive diet" since March 2013..I have a laundry list of foods and beverages that i no longer consumer just because they physically make me ill. I am a boredom eater(which is bad) i will go all day w/o the urge, if i go out after work i will still control the urge to "snack"...But when i get home i am bored and needing something to do with my time. Sure my snack list has changed to fruit cups, yogurt, Jello, apples, and i will sneak occasional ice cream cone, fresh popped popcorn in..I have been doing excellent until last week almost as if i am trying to sabotage myself Today i have made a complete and informed decision that i will NOT compromise what i have been working hard to achieve...i have to be the change that i want to see!!!

I have been big my whole life but I have always been active. Until my 40's. I always played sports and have a physical job. But then age & injuries ended my sports day and a promotion at work meant sitting on my butt. I slowly started to gain weight. I did the Atkins diet and had great luck. I got down to 280 and I was hiking, kayaking and felt great. Then summer happened. It's a busy time with work and I started putting the weight back on. Then my mother got sick and was in the hospital for 6 months. By the time she went into hospice I was spending 18 hrs a day in the hospital. Vending machine snacks and hospital food. Next thing I knew I weight 370lbs! Last year I tried Weight Watchers and lost 35/40 lbs. Then I hit a wall. 2 months no weight loss. Summer came and back to the rat race and off WW. I only put a few lbs back on and seem to level out at about 340. Then this past December we went to Disney World with the kids. (18,19 & 23yrs old) My back problems & foot pain really took their toll. It was there at Disney I decided enough was enough. The beginning of January I started the process. The I got the flu and was sick most on the month. I started getting my clearances in Feb and was schedule for late March. Only problem is my pulmonologist would not sign off. Three sleep studies later and a breathing machine for my apnea & I was cleared at 3:30 the day before my April 25th surgery! I have a few health issues that have played in to my Lap-Band decision. Type II diabetes (major factor in my mothers passing), sleep apnea, high blood pressure & cholesterol. And my back is shot. Surgeon told me that I'm going to need surgery at some point and that I need to lose weight or my rehab will be brutal. And losing weight may put it off for a few more years. Things seem to be going as planned. I have no major complaints. I miss certain foods. Big time. I still get hungry more than I would like. Going through some major lifestyle changes. My girlfriend and I love to go out to eat! We live in NJ just a short drive from Atlantic City and dozens of world class restaurants!!! A couple of weeks ago a had a bit of a set back. We went to a VIP party for the new Atlantic City Margaritaville. Open bar and free food all over. While I did ok with the eating I had a lot to drink! I paid the next day as my stomach let me know that I screwed up. I gained three pounds and did not lose any weight for a week. Lesson learned. A good friend who had the surgery a year ago told me that once I get my first adjustment things are going to change and my reaction to something like that will be more immediate. I hope that I have learned my lesson! That's the Readers Digest version of how I ended up on this journey. So Thursday I have my first adjustment and another phase of this journey will begin.... :-)

The band has totally set my sex drive on fire... it was hot already, but man, feeling better about myself has done wonders! That said, I had a 2 week period after banding I wasn't to have sex (i waited one week)> teri

For the last 12+ years I've desperately wanted and sought bariatric surgery. Now that I'm less than 30 days away from my dream coming true, I find myself full of fear and dread Last week, I was approved for surgery and my wife was denied by the insurance company. We planned to do this together. Her surgery would have come only weeks after mine; now I'll be taking this journey alone. I know she'll be there to support me but somehow, it doesn't seem the same. Logically, I know that I will come through this with flying colors. I completed the 4 month, supervised diet without a hitch. I surprised myself by losing 22 lbs. In 4 months I proved to myself that I could drastically change my eating habits and my lifestyle. I expect to have the same success in the months/years after the surgery. The source of dread is the immediate aftermath of the surgery. I've never had major surgery before. I've never had a catheter and the thought of it makes this big manly-man want to run and hide. I've never been afraid of doctors, hospitals and needles but this is a whole different ball game. A few weeks ago, on YouTube, I watched a video of the procedure being performed; BIG MISTAKE!!!! Now, that the day is near, I can't stop thinking about how painful it will be when the meds wear off. I'm assuming that my expectations of pain and suffering is greatly exaggerated. Can anyone help me set some reasonable expectations? Thanks, Treb

I worry about it as well. I'll say this, it takes some work to really stretch a pouch out. My best friend had a RNY GB 12 years or so ago. He eats whatever he wants, and has failed miserably at the whole weight loss thing (from 700 pounds to 400) but even with that, he can't eat more than a single piece of pizza at a time. His issue, is that he'll start on a pizza at 1700, and by the time he goes to bed, he will have eaten the whole thing, one slice at a time. So, i'll go on record stating that while it is certainly possible to stretch your pouch, it is not easy, if it were my freind would be dead by now. In fact, he has a number of extremely severe health issues relating to, you guessed it, morbid obesity. He has become so anemic that he has to to the hospital three days a week and be infused with Iron via a slow drip, as his body has completely lost the ability to absorb Iron. His Vitamin D is heading the same way, I think his current Vitamin D is 200,000 IU a week and even that has not brought his levels up to normal. He'll die fairly soon I think, we've been friends for 30 years, and I'll miss him, but this is all his doing. I talked until I was blue in the face and he laughed everything off. Oh and he needs double knee replacements, complete knee replacements, at 42 years old. Not good.

The gas pains were with me for over a week, they will go away soon!!!

Dr. Miguel Rojas is the surgeon I went to. I did have to make a visit to my own doctor when I returned because my incision over the port got infected so he put me on an oral antibiotic and the infection seems to be getting better. It was a local infection so it should clear up quickly. But this one incision seems to be a little sore....sure hope that clears up soon. How long are you supposed to be on liquids? My doctor told be 3 weeks but I'm seeing different lengths of time on this site.

Heyyyyy! I do, it’s very low carb one week then liquid the next so I’ll start on the 26 [emoji30] I was just thinking what I want my last supper to be lol

Thanks for missing me. I was enduring the worst ice storm in memory here in Oklahoma. I had no electricity or internet for a week. But I'm baaaaaack.

Hi All--- I was sleeved on 6/27/14, overall it's been a great experience. The hardest thing I'm dealing with is comparing myself to others. I'm almost 8 weeks post op and have lost 35 lbs. Others I know that had the surgery after me are further along in their weight loss. So I'm looking for a little inspiration and other people who feel great but the number on the scale doesn't show it as much?? Feeling frustrated :/

Hi - I actually had a a tube erosion and had to have everything taken out and a new one put back in it was a bump in the road. I and 2 weeks post op now.