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I would think then your doctor will fill you when? when you aren't losing? what type of diet does he keep you on? I know dr. jay will not fill if you gain 10 lbs, have to show the dedication and follow his strict path.

I learned last night at a support group my Dr. does once a month, that this is very common. If we don't gain back more than 10 pounds,there is nothing to worry about. They said after the first fill the stomach opening is tightened again, and we will again be limited to the total amount of food we can eat. That made me feel better. In fact they moved the day of my first fill up - so I don't have to wait too much longer. I will say that after about a week of eating solid foods, I did not feel as hungry, but especially when my Dr. said "EAT/DRINK PROTEIN" and that will stop the stomach growling. He suggested the Atkins drinks - especially in the morning for breakfast. Maybe ya'll can try that!!

Ok so I had my surgery on 4/10 and actually already went back to work. I feel great! However I do have a question about the port. See I have one place which is under my breast a little that is sore and under the skin it feels like the port. There is def something in there!!! However, on my right side in the middle of my stomach there is anoter incision that feels like there is kinda something hard underneath that too! What is going on? I am so crazy but I feel like I am one of those patients that has a medical tool left in them. Does anyone else know what this could be? Could my incision just feel hard? Please help me understand what is going on!!

My approval came way before I thought it would - my date is June 29th I have a week long camping trip planned - leaving July 24-Aug 1...we are not planning on really hiking or anything - just short walks, swimming in a pool, do you think this is too much too soon? From what I have read on here people seem to be feeling pretty good 4 weeks out - would you have done this? It will just be me and the kids the first 5 days (age 10 &7) and then the hubby is coming down -

Sorry, but your doctor is a little off his rocker. 10 pounds is awesome!! And progress is progress. You are by no means a failure. I hope you'll be able to reach your Fluid and Protein goals soon.

Hi, I work as a Para Professional in the NYC Public School System. I'm 8 weeks post op and down 40 lbs. I thought it was going to be difficult as well. I use Mio flavoring in my 30 oz water bottle and sip it throughout the day. No problem whatsoever. After experiencing slight dehydration , you're going to find that you go out of your way to drink as much as you can. As for eating I pack a bag every nigh before I go to sleep. I alternate my snacks. For breakfast I have an egg or a yogurt or a protein shake. Around 10:30 I'll have some almonds or pretzel chips with Hummus or a Sargento snack pack. It's a little difficult at first but first but it gets alot easier as you go along. Best of luck on your journey !!!!

Great job and progress! VSG 10/11/17 HW = 360 SW = 292 GW = 220 3/7/18 CW = 218 (6'5") [emoji256]

My journey was kind of fast too. I thought about this off and on for 10 years and decided in February that I wanted it and here I am. Tomorrow will be a long day and possibly emotional. My new life will be starting

I'm 2.5 weeks post op and got back in the swing of things ~ 10 days post op. For me a "spooning" type position seems to feel best with a still-sore belly!

But do you realize the pizza isn't the problem? I eat pizza about once a month with my kids. I don't mean healthy homemade pizza, I mean the fatty calorie buster variety like you had tonight. 90% of the time, I follow my diet religiously, but 10% of the time I just eat what I want because I want it. I've lost a lot of weight in a relatively short period of time so obviously it hasn't hurt my efforts, either. You don't need an excuse to do what you did, you're human. I do think you're being way, way too hard on yourself about it. Why not embrace this as a learning experience rather than dwell on it as a failure? You realize you're prone to emotional eating so now you can be aware of it. That's a positive. Mistakes are only mistakes if you learn nothing from them, otherwise, they're learning experiences. Make this a learning experience.

You are doing great. Almost 40 pounds in a month and a half seems good doesn't it? I try and remember how long it would take to lose that amount of weight without the surgery. It's hard to lose 10 pounds in a month sometimes so just remember that and I will too, LOL.

I take Protonix RX for 6 months now. this is a new symptom....long history of complications. I am asymptomatic which is good and not at risk for esophogeal issues at this point. not eating - tube feeding, which my body is handling just fine. who knows?? it is just yucky.....(10# to go, but i might change it from 140 to 135 when i get healthy.)

I had to wait 10 weeks before I could swim, or use the hot tub.

I just posted this new weight loss surgery magazine article on the new Gastric Balloon: The gastric balloon is a newer approach to weight loss. It is an alternative to Weight Loss Surgery for obese patients whose BMI’s may be too low to qualify them for Weight Loss Surgery. It can also be an option for you if you do not want surgery because of its risks or because you want a completely irreversible treatment. How It Works The gastric balloon is placed in your stomach to partially fill it. This helps make you feel full so you are inclined to eat less and lose weight. The program depends on your readiness to make changes in your eating behaviors, and you are likely to be more successful if your doctor works closely with you during the time you have the balloon inflated to establish healthier nutritional habits. Like weight loss surgery, the gastric balloon is a tool for weight loss that depends on behavior change. Patients are supposed to have nutritional counseling and learn new eating habits during the months they have the balloon in place. Orbera also promotes establishing a sustainable exercise routine, managing your appetite, and learning how to keep yourself motivated. The Procedures for Implanting and Removing the Balloon It usually takes less than 30 minutes to get a gastric balloon implanted. The procedure is endoscopic, not surgical. You receive an anesthetic for your throat, and then swallow a deflated balloon attached to a catheter or small tube. The surgeon places the balloon using endoscopic instruments, such as a probe with a camera, and then inflates the catheter with saline solution or air. You can go home within hours after your balloon is filled. For 1 to 3 days, you follow a liquid or soft foods diet. You may have multiple balloons inserted over the course of your treatment. For example, Obalon’s 12-week program includes up to three balloons, each with a size of 250 cc (about 1 cup), for a possible total of 750 cc. Other company’s balloons may be larger, such as 400 cc. To remove the balloon, the surgeon gives you a sedative. The process takes only a few minutes, and you will be sedated for only about 30 minutes. Differences from Weight Loss Surgery In general, the gastric balloon is an obesity treatment designed for lower-BMI patients than weight loss surgery. In general, you are eligible for the gastric balloon starting at a BMI of 27. In contrast, health insurance plans that include weight loss surgery set eligibility for reimbursement at a BMI of 40, or a BMI of 35 with an obesity-related comorbidity, such as type 2 diabetes or hypertension. A BMI of 27 is not even considered “obese,” but rather categorizes you as “overweight.” Unlike Weight Loss Surgery, the gastric balloon is not intended to be permanent. The Orbera intragastric balloon can be used for up to 6 months, while the ReShape Duo may be used for up to 12 months. Manufacturers of the gastric balloon claim it can help you lose about 10 to 15 kg (20 to 35 lbs), at the rate of about 1 kg (2 lbs) per week. In comparison, Weight Loss Surgery patients may lose about 80 to 100 lbs. (35 to 45 kg) in their first year after surgery, which is also a rate of about 1 kg/week. They have continued effects of the surgery (e.g., restriction from a smaller pouch/sleeve) after that time, since surgery is permanent. Effectiveness and Safety The gastric balloon can help you lose weight at a steady rate for the months or year you have it in place. It can also help encourage you to establish healthy eating patterns. Some research studies have also found reductions in visceral (or abdominal or belly) fat (that’s the unhealthiest kind of body fat). Patients who are most compliant and lose the most weight are also likely to see improvements in type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and fatty liver. The gastric balloon has fewer risks than surgery. It can lead to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Nausea and vomiting are among the more common side effects. Pregnant women, individuals with psychological disorders, and individuals who are misusing drugs should not get a gastric balloon. A Few Different Versions Multiple companies make versions of the gastric balloon. For example, Apollo Endosurgery, makers of the lap-band, make the Orbera gastric balloon. Obalon sells its gastric balloon in Europe and Mexico. A smaller medical device manufacturing company, ReShape Medical, makes the Reshape Duo balloon, which was approved by the FDA yesterday!

I can see how age factors into weight loss. I lost before and for the next two weeks. I seem to be stuck.....probably ready for a fill. I was banded on Jan 19.

I was banded on January 19, 2007 and I have had those pains too! I have also had trouble getting down adequate fluid and food (pureed). Today was my best day at 25oz. This is so hard. I am thirsty! I did contact my Doctor's who promply sent me for a Barium Esophogram even though their feeling was that I was on the "outer edge of normal" I was so upset and fearful of doing the esopghogram because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to drink enough barium, but I followed my Dr's orders and drank one small sip at a time and held it in my mouth a few seconds before swalling. It went well, and my Dr. is reveiwing the films himself Monday. (The Doctor who did the test thought that all was okay) Once I got home from the test, I let out a series of burps, and the pain lifted! Now I wait for Monday morning. No one told me that I was going to have this much restriction for so long after surgery. Will that diminish?

I have been sleeved for 10 weeks, so I havn't experienced what your going through. I would say go back to the beginning, eat your protein first, keep a food diary, whatever some of the things you were doing to lose the 58 pounds in the first place. That is a big accomplishment!! I'm curious, do you still feel restriction? I'm worried that I could do the same thing, cause I like chocolate and chips, I don't eat a lot of these types of things but a little bit pretty much everyday.

The effects of gastric sleeve surgery are: restricts food intake controls hunger Following gastric sleeve surgery, food continues to move through the digestive system naturally, from the time it enters the stomach to the time it is released into the small intestine through the pyloric valve. The difference is that after surgery the amount of food that can be eaten at any one time is greatly reduced. The surgery also helps to control hunger, because the upper portion of the stomach that produces the hunger stimulating hormone Ghrelin is removed during surgery. I've gone through the Kaiser Options 12 week pre-op program with the intention of having weight loss surgery, after many years of yo-yo dieting and always gaining back the weight. I'm 56 and I needed to do something very proactive to give me longevity and a more active lifestyle. I got really tired of being sedentary! Tired of needing a belt extender on an airplane, tired of never sitting in a booth in a restaurant! In the 12 week program, we were expected to lose 10% before being eligible for surgery and put on a restricted calorie diet, mine started at 1400-1700 calories for six weeks, then 1200-1400 for the next six weeks, and after that 1200, which is ongoing while I wait for surgery. The post op information indicates that the dietary restrictions after surgery, once fully healed, are to eat mostly Protein, then fruits & veggies, then carbs. The new stomach pouch can only hold about 3-4 ounces in the beginning, so this is not much food, but you feel FULL after eating very little, and the stomach is no longer "stretchy". You have to supplement with protein about 80-100 grams per day. This means for most people supplementing with Protein shakes between meals and then meals with high protein as a main component. I can envision having some carbs after surgery, but this will not be my mainstay. I have lost a good amount of weight even now at 1200 calories and 30 minutes a day of walking and some resistance work and strength training. I take Vitamins everyday and drink at least 64 oz of liquid daily. Mostly, if you feel better having some carbs in your life, you would be better to switch out to whole grains. I do this by having whole grain crackers, reduced fat triscuit and wheat thins, whole grain bread, brown rice (learned to love this) and whole wheat english muffins, Pasta, etc. Even tortilla chips are whole grain, so I can have my chips and salsa and still lose weight. In the big scheme, you can't do things the old way. You have to eat healthy and do the work, by monitoring your intake, and drinking Fluid and getting excercise. The sleeve is a tool not a simple fix. I'm going for it.

The first 6 weeks most surgeons order us not to lift anything over 10 lbs, and such.... You need to walk and make sure you don't dehydrate. Not doing these things can land you back in the hospital. Of course you are fragile for a while after surgery... thats just normal to be cautious for a short while until complete recovery. At 6 weeks I feel great and ready to really engage with all that life hands me.

Well sweetie it's all really individualized. What I can eat, which is pretty much anything except bread and hamburger, other people may not. As for the throwing up, from my experience if I go slowly and take small bites that I chew up really well I'm fine. Another friend of mine threw up everyday for a year, but that was because she didnt listen to her body and work with the band. And no, it's not a silly question. I asked my dr the exact same thing, I told him if I was going to end up like my friend there was no way I was doing it. 10 months out and so far so good. Hope this helps you...it's a tough choice, but it's a great life on the other side of the band... Kelly

i haven't had the surgery myself, i'm in the begining stages. my story is similar to yours except for the medical problems. i've been obese all my life and never had any surgery except for dental. i'm an ob/gyn and do surgeries all the time. there are no guarantees in anything, for the most part the complication rates are minimal. one of the keys is making sure your surgeon has enough experience (make sure he or she is a bariatric surgeon), don't be afraid to ask for his complication rate. first find out if your insurance covers bariatric surgery and what their requirements are. then find a bariatric surgeon. they will guide you from there. my insurance requires me to lose weight (10%) first and since i don't have any comorbidities i'm don't know if i will get approve. if not i am heading to mexico (it's going to cost about the same as my copay for surgery here anyway), that's how serious i'm about being at a healthier weight and prevent my family's medical problem from becoming my own. weight loss has been shown to significantly improve morbidity/mortality. you may end up having to take less pills everyday for blood pressure and even require none at all. good luck with everything.

Wow, Missy, you sure don't look 55!!! Anyway, I was sleeved at 58, am now 63....best thing I ever did! Congratulations! Excited for you. Interestingly, I was 223 lbs, but 205 at surgery, just like you! My goal weight was 138 which I reached in exactly one year (I wrote a book about called Queen of Crop, where I wrote every Sunday for a year (while traveling!). Might help you see what you might be in store for....a great adventure for sure! I was at my goal weight for 4 years....this past year I have gained 10 lbs and am working to get that off.....good luck!

That’s good. Yes, everyone is different & if that works for you then go for it your way. Height: 5'0" Weight for WLS consultation: 216 lbs. Surgery date: 2/13/17 Goal: -71 lbs for healthy BMI (about 145 lbs). Current weight: 130 lbs, 10 lbs away from new goal. My profile picture is not me. It's my "FITspiration" body.

i got banded on 01/27/11,, i have lost 77lbs with no fills, i also got stuck but no vomiting a few times because of not chewing enough!!!!!

Who are you telling I had a drain that was left in for 8 days that was so uncomfortable 10 mgs of Percocet wouldn't help. I got pneumonia was hospitalized for 4 days no other complications other than that.. When the drain came out I started feeling 100% better no nausea I've been drinking well. Hope you're feeling better