Search the Community

I'm not quite at goal but had my surgery last summer as well. As my weight loss has slowed and I'm not constantly dropping pounds, I'm finding myself sliding back into my old dislike of my body, being very critical of every flaw and in general not being very positive about myself. I'm fighting that negative self-talk pretty hard, and I've asked my husband to help me, too. I have a very hard time accepting compliments, but now the 'rule' is that if he says 'hi gorgeous!' or 'you look great' or whatever, I'm not allowed to deny it or say anything negative in return. I say 'thank you' and 'I'm glad you like this dress' and don't let the negative stuff invade my head. It's amazing how much better I feel about myself when I'm not berating myself all the time. I was in a size 18 when I had surgery in June, I'm now in a 10 and will shortly wear an 8... it's absolutely ridiculous for me to be so critical of myself. I look good, and it's okay for me to think it AND say it. You too, right? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Stay with it, I was exactly the same. Things are now starting to calm down and the vomiting is getting more and more infrequent. It does get better, I kept having to drop back onto liquid's for a few days then move on with the programme of re feeding. Sent from my HTC 10 using the BariatricPal App

I am one week postop. I was sleeved in Tijuana Mexico on Monday, June 15. I went through bariatric pal and my surgeon was dr. Jesus Lopez Dominquez. I want to add that though I was confident in my decision to go to Mexico I will admit that I was skeptical the entire time. When I set foot in the airport at San Diego to go home I knew that I had not been mislead in any way. My husband and I arrived in San Diego airport on Sunday, June 14. We had about a 10 minute wait before we were picked up. The young man who picked us up lived in San Diego and spoke english and was a very polite and friendly young man. He drove us the 20-30 minutes to the recovery house. We drove straight across the border in the medical pass lane with no waiting. The recovery house is a 2 bedroom apartment (it was a nice apartment). The BariatricPal staff worked out of the neighboring apartment. You will not be in the apartment alone. It is set up for two patients and their traveling companions. At this time, if they have overflow patients, they house them at the Hilton which is about a 10 min walk from the apartment. The difference between being housed at the apartment and the hotel is that at the apartment, you get constant and immediate assistance from the BP staff. If you want to go somewhere, they take you and have someone with you that will translate. if you need broth or other items from the store they will either have it delivered or they will go get it for you. The Hilton will not send someone down the road to buy you a Gatorade if you need one. If you are the type that would rather be left alone, the Hilton is for you. As for us, we enjoyed the staff and their company. We arrived in Sunday for a Monday morning surgery so my Surgeon came to the apartment on Sunday afternoon and gave me a complete description of what was going to happen and answered any questions or concerns I might have. On Monday morning a driver came to the apartment and picked myself and my husband up and drove us to the hospital. We were immediately taken to a room and given the usual gown and surgical hose to change into. My nurse, Karen, (who is amazing BTW) started my IV and took blood. The blood was tested there at the hospital. I was then seen my Dr. Trasvino who was the internal medicine doctor and he did the EKG and gave me the results of my blood test. He was very thorough and discussed any concerns he had about my general health. I was then visited by the Anesthesiologist. I don't remember her name but she was absolutely gorgeous and very kind and funny. They then walked me into the surgery room where there were 3 doctors, the anesthesiologist and two nurses. I was given a shot through my IV and that is the last I knew until I woke up in my recovery room. My husband had me up and walking as soon as I could get my legs under me and quite frankly I don't remember anything before 7 pm and my surgery was around noon. They did have a bed in the room available for my husband if he wanted to stay. I am kind of funny about that and we decided he would sleep at the recovery house because I really don't like being stared at while I sleep. It gave me peace of mind knowing he was resting well. While away from try hospital my husband always had someone with him that spoke english and showed him around. He even got to go to the beach which he enjoyed. I had around the clock care by nurses and doctors. The hospital I stayed in was small but was big on expertise and ability. The big thing that I noticed is that in America you have your doctor and you are his patient and no other doctors see you. In Mexico, every doctor there would stop in and check on me and make sure I was ok. I stayed two nights in the hospital and upon release on Wednesday we were picked up by a young lady who drove us to the radiology place and they performed a second leak test then she drove us back to the recovery house where we spent one more night While at the recovery house, my surgeon came to check on me and talk to me about the results of my leak test and also post-op care and answer any questions. I also saw the internal medicine doctor and the nutritionist came to the apartment and went over my post-op diet in detail. Thursday morning we were pickup and driven back to the airport a few hours before our flight. It took us about an hour to get back across the border. It was a much shorter line because it for medical vehicles. You do not need a passport but you will need either your passport or a picture ID and a certified copy of your birth certificate. I was never in pain. I was sore but not in pain. I never had any nausea and never threw up. I didn't have any difficulty swallowing. If I got the gas pain in my stomach or throat, I simply got up and walked. I never got the severe shoulder and chest pain I read so much about on the forum. My doctor didn't allow anything for 24 hours after surgery. No ice chips. No Popsicle. Nothing. Then 24 hours after I was given a Popsicle to eat slowly. They would bring me a Popsicle or ice chips anytime I wanted some. But that is all I was allowed until I was released on Wednesday. After I got back to the apartment, the staff had broth delivered to me from a local restaurant. It was the best broth I have ever eaten! Things I didn't know, that you might like to know: 1. You will be sharing the apartment with other people. 2. You can eat the day before surgery even if you are on a liquid diet. Just nothing 10-12 hours before surgery. However, you can't have cokes or too much bread product. When we went to eat on Sunday the BP staff with us was knowledgable to let me know what I could and could not eat. 3. You do pay for your own food. As patients we won't be eating much but your traveling companion will. Any broth delivered is our responsibility to buy but is very cheap. 4. Be prepared to walk. Everything is within walking distance of the apartment and you will be walking. If you want to take a taxi, you pay for it. And again that was not expensive. If you do take taxis a BP staff will go with you to translate. BP provides transportation to and from the airport and to and from the hospital. Anything else you either walk or take a taxi. But you won't be alone unless you choose to stay at the Hilton. 5. Pack sterile bandages for your incisions because they are not provided when you leave the hospital and you can't find them in Tijuana. 6. The comment "we own 2 luxury condominiums" in the initial package is misleading. They are nice apartments and one is occupied by staff. By American standards the apartments are middle of the line but clean. Absolutely not "luxury condominiums". 7. The comment "We pick you up in person at the airport not curbside like most other companies." We were picked up curbside after a 10 min wait. If I choose to have plastic surgery in a year, I will schedule it with BariatricPal. I have complete confidence in them.

Thank you so much for sharing. I think we can all see ourselves somewhere in there. While not one of us is the same, we all have similar struggles and we are all here for the same reason. Thank you to my forum family for always being there for me, for the laughter and the tears. You all are truly amazing!!! Jess...Surgiversary 9/19/12

Aw, you guys are awesome. Thank you for the support and advice. I've always felt uncomfortable in my skin, from the time I was a sz 6 in high school, to a sz 10 in college, to a sz 20/22 for most of my post-college career and now at the smallest I've ever been which is a sz 3/4. However, I do plan to transfer to another position because in addition to not meshing well with my team, there are some things I really don't like about the administration at my school. I think I was able to deal with the administration better when I had the support of my team. It's kind of like being a kid with really strict parents and going from having siblings to help you get through to being an only child.

After 10 agonizing months with 1800getthin i finally am now a patient of Dr Korman, man am i happy to be there :thumbup:

Mine lasted from about month 4 to between 9 and 10. I was getting all of my Protein, taking all my Vitamins, and was taking Biotin from my pre op diet on. I tried nioxin, fight fall shampoo & everything else that has been suggested. Nothing worked. And my hair was thin to start with. It just stopped on it's own. I now have tons of little baby hairs at the roots. I wish I had better advice. I can tell you the 155 pounds I've lost is well worth the hair loss.

The pre-op diet does completely bite! The good thing was I lost 10 lbs while doing it. It just puts us that much closer to our goal and everytime you drink the broth remind yourself how FINE you are going to be in the following months!!

Wow, sounds like you're doing great. My surgery was 10/19 and my doctor isn't doing my first fill until 12/10 (7 weeks out). I wish I had the "restriction" you have. Right now it seems like I can eat just about anything -- I take that back I found out the consequences of eating a turkey burger at my old pace. Sounds like you could be one of the lucky ones!!!!

my surgery is the 20th. day two wasnt that bad either. someone bought in baked chicken at lunch and i wasnt tempted at all. i even when to the grocery store to pick up some more liquids and Soup and i didnt pick up anything extra except some SF peppermints to fight the bad breathe! LOL! I'm looking at this a challenge to myself and praying I make it the entire way! 10 more days til i'm banded!!!!!!

Hi there. Newbie here and surgery scheduled for Oct 19. I read this site everyday to gain strength and guidence that I am making the right decision. Can any of you give me some tips? I am loosing sleep ovIer this. I am so sure one day that I want to do it and they next I am questioning myself.

So I went for my CAT scan this morning. It was actually two CAT scans, one of my chest and one of my upper abdomen. Jeesh that crap is expensive. Thankfully on this insurance policy, I've met my deductible for the year. Unfortunately I begin a new job next week so I'll have a NEW deductible soon. I am praying that I won't be eaten up with more bills. I am thankful (or rather, trying to be) that God has given me the options of being able to make arrangements to pay most of these bills thus far. I'm praying that continues. And I'm not going to think of Bora Bora or Tahiti, my life long bucket list places that I dream of going, and how I probably could have if I would not have done all of this to myself. Anywho, I digress. Yeah I'm a rambling queen, what's new? So the CAT scan was "interesting"... as interesting as having my large toe cut off slowly. The technician was someone that I knew from prior experience, very nice man. He said that the results will probably get to my pulmonologist either Wed. or Thurs. So then I'll know "what's next". My pulmonologist is a little bit 'different' so I'm praying that experience with him isn't as jarring as the last one that I had with him! You go in and have to drink these two large bottles of clear liquid. It's very sweet stuff, not far off from a protein bullet but not quite as alarming as one of those. I choked down the 1.5 bottles the tech told me to do, then off I went. After the CAT scan was over, I took hubby to lunch. Least I could do since I "made" him take the day off. He was going to 'work from home' and just go with me but I didn't want him half here you know? That was the other day whenever I cried so much I swole my eyes shut that I made him take the day off, but c'est la vie. I am better today after having spoken to my bariatric dr. yesterday. I fully trust Dr. Meyers. He is a skilled surgeon who has helped me so much in all of these bills and figuring out what is next. He told me that if they find a cavity or area of trapped cells somewhere in between my diaphragm and lungs, they would probably have to get a cardiac thoracic surgeon to drill it out. It would be done laproscopically, but still he said to call him and let him know so I can discuss who is on my plan and who is good to do this if needed. If it's not a cavity or pocket of cells, then it might just be 'water' in my lungs leftover from the first surgery... then my pulmonologist can drain that himself per my bariatric dr. I hope that's the case. And I'm praying all of this just gets resolved. After lunch with hubby (btw, we made a 'good' choice today in managing my environment... we went to cowboy chicken and had rotisserie drumsticks with campfire veggies and watermelon and split it). Then I went to macy's... every year I try to remember in August to go look at bathing suits for next year. So this year, I reallllly needed to. I got 10 pieces for $48! And I even got one bikini. Who the hell is this girl buying a two piece? IDK but whenever we hopefully go somewhere next year (or the year after, we'll see) then I'll be wearing that. But not at the community pool, like I need to see PTA peops in a bikini with my scars. Who knows though... I might just get that daring after all. Thank you to anyone and everyone who has been praying for me. I truly don't have words to tell you how much I appreciate it. Felicia you are the bomb btw. She may never see this, but I sincerely appreciate all of your texts and prayers. tc, write soon... xx

ok, so 5/5/8 @ 7am i got my band. spent the entire day in the hospital. i was planning on doing it outpatient but as the day went on, and due to the gas pains, i stayed the night. they told me i wouldn't be able to eat until the next morning b/c of my upper GI that they had to do. after a little kicking and asking i got a bowl of chicken broth, Jello and h20 right around 9pm (Monday).. and i'll tell you that was the best freaking meal i can remember having in a long time. weird thing was that i put on 5 lbs in the hospital. i guess all the IV fluids and whatnot. did my upper GI today and left the hospital at 10:15am feeling pretty good. got some gas pains, but that is to be expected. i went on a little walk to p/u my daughter from her school. the walk was about 6blocks...and man, did it feel like someone kicked me right in the chest. or better yet, it felt like i was in a car accident and hit the steering wheel with my chest. but as soon as i sit down, i start to feel a little be better. had some broth today (twice) and had my first vanilla Protein smoothie (about 8oz). ...on the path. more updates to come.

I had an analysis done at the Medifast clinic here in Sacramento. They tell you how much muscle mass, Water, etc you have. I am doing the Medifast diet to lose my required 10% for my insurer. On their printout they said my goal was 187 based on my muscle mass and I do agree that that seems pretty high! I have pretty much decided that I am going to go ahead and get the lapband anyway since my biggest obstacle has always been maintenance and not so much the actual losing anyway. I need to keep a long term control on my diabetes since it's causing me some serious problems! Thanks for your reply! -Heidi-

I am now on day 10 of the diet and my goodness it has gotten so much easier. I am basically able to go about my normal life without even having to worry about what I have eaten which is actually kind of awesome. My energy levels surprisingly enough are through the roof. I woke up early before work and ran 45 minutes at the gym, had a full day of work and even played 4 games of pickup basketball after work and besides being a little sore I feel fine. Surgery is only 5 days away and I cannot wait!

I think about 10 days post-op I resumed my drinking from a straw "habit". Almost everything I sip, with the exception of hot decaf coffe/tea is from a straw. I have zero issues with it. I don't have any trouble with getting extra "air" in my mouth from using a straw, plus it might help you with sipping, instead of gulping. Give it a try!

I do not know when because I did not read my mail until 10:00 Friday night.I will call the surgeons office on Monday.I am so happy for you.Please keep me posted on everything.

Remember that your head gives up before you body does! Slow progress is still progress. You can only walk 10 feet today. That's totally okay. Tomorrow you'll do 12 feet. Just strive to be a little bit better than you were the time before, and soon you'll be up and about without even noticing! You can do this!

Wt prior to surgery 290#, wt now 10days later, 271, lost of 19#. Still sore at port site, burns after activity.

I'm 10 days out and it was not that bad. The people in the hospital I went to were just great to me. From the people that signed me in to all the pple in the OR. There are a lot of pple in the OR so be prepared for that. A lot more than I would have thought. You will do just fine. I have already lost 25 lbs since pre-op. Keep your mind on that.

Why is my husband continuously trying to sabatage my success so far with the lap band? why? What have i done wrong for him not to help and support me? He offers me pizza and cookies, and ice cream...purchases my fav candy for me too....what is the deal??? He has changed huge, he only visited me for 10 minutes in the hospital. 10 minutes...if it was him i would have been there all night for him. ALL NIGHT... (i have 3 dogs) i woke up this morning to the smell of poop in the house. I got out of bed to see what the deal was...i walk into the kitchen smell stronger...i look at the dog who is in her crate and poop is everywhere...EVERYWHERE....NOW..if it just happened..i understand mistakes happen...but when i went to clean it up, it was COLD...COLD i tell you so that means it happened last night...and he didn't notice? so now i have a poop covred dog...AAAHHHH why is he doing this to me? why is he purposely makeing me mad and trying to sabatage me? WHY? We go grocery shopping and he purchases food for his lunches....fine...he then asks me like a little boy if he can get chips, sure..if you want them and need them then sure. Then we come home and he is shocked i said yes....then he eats them when we come home from shopping....and says well you said yes so they must be healthy...he is 35, he is a big boy now, and he can make his own decisions right???? do i have to be a mom to him??? AAAAAHHHHH i wish i was lesbian:cursing:

What's your email and I'll send u photos! One pair are the blinged out and the others are a high end pair! Banded August 28 2012<br />Starting weight 293<br />Day of surgery weight 273<br />Current weight 258<br />Goal weight 160 5ft 10

Interested to find out how everyone’s diabetes and blood sugar levels have been since they’ve had surgery. I’m still early in the process and hoping to have VSG in May or June of 2019. Improvement in my overall health, especially with my diabetes is my main reason for pursuing surgery. Thank you!!

I was sleeved July 10 my highest weight 264 day of surgery 258 and now I'm juggling between 225-229 I'm super depressed that I'm not losing. I'm at a 3 week stall. I don't know what to do

I've wondered about caffeine if it really needs to be forbidden forever. I was hospitalized for depression once about 10 years ago and they wouldn't allow any caffeine at all in the unit. Everything decaf. Because it's a stimulant I guess but since then, I've wondered how it would fit into a healthy life. I was a diet coke addict until June 9th (surgery date lol) so I'm sure it will be a huge change for me not to have them anymore.