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Amazing - congrats!! I'm almost 3months out from surgery and very close to my goal well. VSG 10/11/17 HW = 360 SW = 292 CW = 240.4 GW = 220 (6'5")

Last Friday 5/8 I was banded. OH BABY!!! :ohmy: Of course that day our area was hit with a really bad storm, 17 tornados touched down in our surrounding area. Of course I had no clue, I was in lala land! They said they had to postpone my surgery till the storm passed over but I still had no clue how bad it was. A few nights later I finally was able to see the news and asked my husband, "What the hell happened"? I'm just glad our home and family/friends were ok and feel so bad for the people who had damage. Ok, now for the trip so far. I handled surgery just fine, Doc said everything went very well, was in for 40 mins surgery and 1 1/2 hrs. of recovery. I wanted to sleep instead of breathing deeply, nurses didn't like that. I feel wonderful, no nauseia, not a great deal of pain, off pain meds after the 3rd day. Doing fine on full liquids. Even made a big batch of potato salad for Mothers day and didn't even want a bite! I have not been hungery AT ALL, so far this has been a walk in the park! Knock on wood! I hear the shoulder pain from the gas is bad, but it's not happened yet! I'm 5 days out and nothing, THANKS TO GOD! So may be I'm just one of the lucky ones, the blessed ones??? Yes I'm sick of liquids but it really isn't so bad! I add a lot of ice to my slimfast and I feel like it's a milkshake. I can do this. I've been walking every day, just a little, I get worn out so easy! I see out Doc on Thursday, can't wait to see how much I've lost in water weight. I lost 10 lbs. before surgery and I know I've lost more, my feet and ankles have never been so skinny and think! this is to friggin awesome!!!

I was born in garden city mi, and raised in Fraser mi but I moved to vA when I was 19 and been here ever since Sent from my SAMSUNG-NOTE using RNYTalk

I'm 41 married and father of 2 boys .. used to be athletic but stopped after graduated from Univ. and started career I started gaining weight each month .. bounced through diet sometimes but always maintained way up on scale .. studied for a year or more what to do and decided it's surgery my solution .. At first I decided wd my wife and a famous doctor here in Cairo the gastric bypass .. we made the pre op analysis and checkups All was clear and set the op last year's May 7th.. I'm from Alexandria it's 220 km far from Cairo so I drove my car early dawn reached hospital, parked front of entrance and never was able to open door and jump inside hospital .. I freezed!! Something told me Go back don't do it don know why?? So I turned to my wife who kept encouraging me all the way and to her eyes told her straight I'll not do this bypass surgery!! She started to cry I dropped inside hospital front desk to tell them I'm not doing it and asked them to inform Dr. as soon as they can. I returned back took my time to study All and gave myself one year to sort it out if not I'll return doing bypass again!! 3 months back I was in a mall in Cairo met a fellow that I don't know who stopped me and told me you are 180 kgs!!! He is normal size, not obese so he struck me telling me he was like me one year back!! Told me about Plication and how it turned his life way better and how he committed himself to advise everyone who was like him to do it. I got his Surgeon details in another city 180 km from us went there and met him and liked it All. Only problem it's away from my hometown not very comfortable I started to search in my hometown and found a v good surgeon a brother of one of my best colleagues in Faculty who made it frequently and got v good results and decided he's the one! Today I completed one month post op .. feeling gr8 .. eating good .. lost 20 KG (44 pounds) 10 days pre op + 1 month post op .. feeling more normal now .. small portions fill it in wd satisfaction and can stay long without craving if ever as before!! No craving no bad mood without eating nor drinking problem is it goes to Water as well so water intake at first dropped dramatically now begin to increase it so it's vital and so imp. Best of luck in yours did the right choice and you'll begin a new you a much better self confident You .. post op only 2 days of disorder and some mild to normal pain then way better ev day .. best luck and best wishes

The doctor removed mine and did a local around the site and then sent some down the tube to numb the area and the diaphragm . I've heard without it that it produces quite the scream So far down 10 (total 20 with pre diet). It's my choice to go back - I own the company . Will probably start off 4 hours a day and build up during the week. Only seem to have gas issues in the morning - oh and when I drink too fast. I keep asking my husband I let me smell his food he thinks I'm nuts but I am looking forward to "tasting" omething other than chocolate, vanilla or chicken broth !

I was the opposite...I weighed everyday because I felt it gave me more control. I have my weight written down everyday for most of my adult life but the times I gained were the times I stopped weighing myself everyday. Since surgery I have written my weight down every single day so I can see exactly when I had stalls, when I went up or down, and around the times that I added or removed something from diet or exercise how it affected my weight. There are days, like yesterday, when I get on the scale and I want to throw it through a wall, however because I knew immediately I had gained weight I was super careful yesterday and this morning I was right back to normal. When I weigh everyday, I can fix a problem immediately, whereas when I don't, if something I have been doing is causing a gain I may not realize until I have to lose 5 or 10 pounds instead of 1 or 2. I'm a pretty controlling person so I would go crazy if I wasn't 100% sure what I weighed every single morning. I took my scale with me on vacation. Amusingly, I weigh myself on 2 scales everyday because I got the Aria on that syncs to fitbit awhile ago, but I wasn't wiling to give up my original scale. So yes, I weigh myself on two scales every morning. Obsessive, a little, but skinny, so worth it.

Sorry so long. My boyfriend is a hoarder. We’ve been a couple for over 8 years. I used to live with him and my grown daughter in a 2-bedroom 2-bath apartment. The hoarding was getting out of control. It was the only thing we fought about. Then we got bedbugs in February 2012. For about a month I tried to get him to clean up. He would not throw anything away, bag it up and store it, or clean it. I threatened to move out and he still didn’t do anything. So I found another apartment for my daughter and me. I started packing, which took up a lot of time because of working full-time. We moved 3-24-12. Then I was unpacking and arranging, sometimes until 10 pm to midnight. My boyfriend found a place for his car and stuff, but not a place to live. So I worry about him because he is 73 and homeless. I cannot get him to get a place to live. He is a janitor and is sleeping on a couch in a doctor’s office he cleans. He baths at my house. I wash his clothes. I provide breakfast. He finds his own lunch and dinner. Yesterday I contacted his family and am waiting to hear from them. He is holding me emotionally hostage because of this. I quit exercising. I was so tired. I was so swamped I could not eat properly and ate a lot of carbs. On-sale Easter candy and I became reacquainted. I still managed to get my protein through protein drinks, but it was hard to remember liquids. I was able to keep up with supplements because I can now take pills, so I just added them to my morning and evening medications. I only had one day to rest during this entire time. Yesterday was the first time I was able to breathe. Today I am taking stock of what has been happening with my health. This was my first time of being tested by stress since being sleeved 12-19-11. I realize I have been using comfort foods to help me get through everything. I weighed 199 on 3-9-12. Today I weigh 191. I’ve only lost 8 pounds since 3-9-12, almost 7 weeks. Ordinarily I would have lost 14-16 pounds in that time. I have been an emotional and physical mess. This whole situation is completely insane to me. I’m not sleeping well. I’ve been drinking coffee and Red bull to keep up my energy. I started back exercising yesterday. I’ve learned that I can slide back into my old habits despite being sleeved. I’m trying to get back to the basics to get back on track. That means good carbs, counting calories, exercising, and getting in all my protein and liquids. If anyone has any input I would appreciate it.

Im in the exact same boat! My surgery is on the 4th and i'm not on day 5 of the liquid diet....i have literally had to talk myself out of eating every night....i'm 7.5 lbs down since starting the liquid diet though so that helps to motivate me. I actually started my liquid diet on December 7th, because I and my patient navigator were hopeful that my insurance would approve before end of the year, and there was a chance that my surgery would be either the week of Christmas or the week after. As it turns out, it ended up being scheduled for the 28th. I have been on liquids for an extra week, which has not been easy at all! The first few days were awful, with headaches, and wanting food. It has become easier, but I still have my moments. I am down 19 pounds from my start weight. My surgeon said last Wednesday, that my extra week will be beneficial to him, making it even easier to get to the stomach, and he told me he was proud of my determination, and said I have a good head start on my weight loss. Best of luck to you on your weight loss journey, and prayers for you on the 4th! My nerves have been overbearing the past few nights, worrying about my surgery on Monday. I hope everyone who has commented on my thread, will stay in touch, and let me know how your surgeries went!

Welcome! I know it's scary and yes it's a huge decision. It sounds like you have done a lot of work on yourself mentally and I think that's a major key to sucsess in this process. You are right, it's your decision who to tell and not tell about your surgery. I told one person, my mother, and that's it. If anyone asks how I am loosing the weight I just tell them I have committed to a high Protein, low carb lifestyle. When you come home after surgery you will be sore and on different stages of dietary restrictions....I don't see how you can keep that from your teenagers. I think they will notice, so in my opinion it might be a good idea to have a talk with them. You might be surprised at how happy they will be that you decided to become a fit, active and healthy mom. This was the best decision, my only regret is not having it done about 10 years ago. Keep coming to this forum, ask a lot of questions. You will do great!

Hi, I'm in Marion and I'm scheduled for the 19 of November. Not sure if I'm doing this reply the right way. Sorry if I'm repeating myself and you've already read this.

How are all my 9/19 sleevesters doing? I feel surprisingly wonderful. No pain really, more of a soreness as if I took a 8 hour core training class. The dilaudid is making me itchy so I got Benadryl to help. And I've been walking the corridors! So happy I'm in the other side and I can't wait to start this new phase. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi, my surgery is on 9/19, I just started my pre-op diet 5 Protein shakes a day. I'm excited and a little nervous, but I can't wait. I still need to take my measurements, but I can't wait to buy new clothes I put a hold on buying any new stuff and I can't wait until I can start buying new smaller ones.

September 19th date too! 3 days into the pre op diet. Protein shakes as snack and low carb meal with protein and veggies. Ironically my food funeral weekend did not go as planned, as I ended up with a gastrointestinal bug, so was on liquids right before starting pre op diet. Drinking Water and crystal light and Premier Protein. Hospital tour tonight for a pre op tour of what to expect. Have a great day 9/19's Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Yogurt, mad cow cheese, runny porridge, hummus these are my main things I live on. Good luck Sent from my HTC 10 using the BariatricPal App

The best thing to do is go to your health insurance provider’s website and email them requesting a copy of your plan’s requirements for an approval for WLS. They should email you a copy within a couple days. But odds are good that if your doctor is telling you it’s required, it’s required. I’ve worked in medical for a LONG time. If your a specialty medical provider, you’re going to be incredibly familiar with the requirements for every health plan you accept at your office. I never trust a basic representative from a customer service line when it comes to healthcare. They usually have no idea when it comes to anything other than regular pcp and rx care. Anything with a specialization and they tend to not know. HW: 311 CW: 258 SW: We’ll see on May 10! First goal weight: 191 lbs Second goal weight: 159 lbs Goal weight: 142 lbs 5’6” 34 yo female in NC

May 10th for me. Down 8 lbs so far on this liquid diet. Tough the first 3 days but has been ok since then. HW: 321 CW: 278 GW: 180 Sleeve scheduled: 5/10/18

My surgery is May 10! So excited but nervous as well. 🙌🏻

I once lost my bikini bottoms on a water tube on the Illinois River (this was of course when i was about 19 and thin). As for any malfunctions while heavy... here is my story.... laugh if you will: I had just had my son about 2 months prior. I was only 21 and my best friend suggested I finally go and "celebrate" turning 21. So I thought, well heck, I will or I will regret not doing it. So off I went to find a good outfit to wear. I wanted to look "hot" even though I was married and not trying to find anyone. Needless to say I was heavy as I had gained 65 lbs pregnant. My friend suggested a girdle. I was hesitant but who would know right? So off I went to the downtown to whooop it up for the night with my friend. The first nightclub was good but we wanted to go up the street a bit to another more happening place. So I did a quick potty trip to the bathroom and off we went to walk about 2 blocks up to the next nightclub. This "strip" of clubs is very packed on the sidewalks with people walking to/from places. Soooo, anyways... I started noticing people looking at me and even turning their heads as I walked by. Mannnnn, I must be HOTTTT! I felt GREAT! I started to "strut" I think too. I felt like the queen of the hotties! I even turned and flirted a bit. This all came to screachinggggggg halt when my friend noticed that my after going potty at the last club I had left my cute little skirt tucked up in my big ol' granny girdle and was walking down the main downtown street with my big ol' booty (properly scrunching all my fat butt in with a little coming out the sides) for the whole town to see! I was MORTIFIED! I went home crying and vowed to put my "party" days behind me. Once at home, eyes puffy, tired from sobbing, I looked in on my angel sleeping and remember thinking..... he was worth it. So there you have it... my wardrobe malfunction.

Psalm 20, I was banded close to the same time you were. On November 7 to be exact. I felt restriction for about the first three weeks. I am "eligible" for a fill on the 19th of December but have decided not to do it until after the first of the year. I've only lost 10 pounds since surgery and it is an absolute fight everyday not to eat more than I should. My appetite is everything it ever was. While I've had some difficulties with things feeling stuck, I think it was because I forget to chew, chew, chew. Once I get filled, I'm really going to have to be careful and remember that. Does anyone know if I've stretched my pouch by eating more than 1 cup of food at a time. Frankly, once my appetite came back, and I no longer felt restriction, I simply forgot to watch the amount I was eating. I'm sure that's why I've only lost 10 pounds. Is there symptoms to having stretched your pouch that I can watch for? Remember I haven't had my first fill yet.

To My dear Bariatric Pals! I wanted to thank you all for your support during my jitters in the weeks leading up to the OR. Indeed, it was probably one of the most nerve wracking things I’ve ever done! As I close in on a week post opp tomorrow, I have refrained from posting too much about the experience because I think I needed a little bit of time, first of all to recover enough to be lucid enough to write coherently, but also because I needed to regain some of my emotional footing, as I let the enormity, irriversability and life changing capacity that this surgery has afforded me sink in. I will post several things on how I prepared emotionally for the surgery and also the things I found helpful on surgery day to help those who are close to the date and need support to make it through, at a latter date. But in this post I wanted to update you all on how I’m doing in a synopsis. First off…my surgery started at approximately 10:30am and lasted almost 3 hours, because along with the Sleeve, Band removal and Gallbladder removal, they found a hiatal hernia to repare (in short, I got the Blue plate special). Anasthesia was my biggest concern. Coming out of it took a long time…I was in pain and naucious but communicating with my caretakers gave them a chance to stabilize me such that by evening I was somewhat coherent. At first, I was really tight…even taking down an ice-chip was hard. And ofcourse there was the bloated gas to contend with. Knowing this I was armed with my on Gas Ex strips, forget the baby Simithicone they were giving me, but most importantly, as SOON as I could semi wobble, I started walking the hallways…my 2 hour cycles ran like this…Sleep, take pain meds, sip liquid, pee, and walk those hallways as much as I could, and very soon, the gas problem was mitigated. Leaving the worse problem my banged up throat (from intubation) which was so raw and bad he surgeon took a pic of it to show the anesthesiologist! It felt like a layer of skin has literally been sloughed off, and so red and raw. And when I swallow…some skin seems loose like I’m swallowing my throat…yeah…bad). After a nasty Barium swallow on day two I was clearned for liquids and the watered down Apple juice from an ounce cup felt like heaven! I was release at the end of day 3. Back home I continued to walk. My fitbit registereing 6k steps all week and today I did 10k steps. Now these are veeeery slow put persistent and steady steps throughout the day, and after pain meds, and the only reason I can do this is because in the months leading up, I got a fitbit and worked my way up to about 12k steps, so I highly recommend you start walking now. I finally was cleared from Clear Liquids to cream Soups today…wooo hooo. First few days I was not as hungry, but now, be it head hunger or what…mama wants some sustainance! And broth ain’t cutting it! The cream of mushroom was devine! I’m weaning off of Hydrocodine and moving to liquid gel Aleve. Upon my return home, gained Water weight coming back home from the IV as expected. My stomach feels distended and droopy as expected. And I have 6 incisions to nurse. The more I drank, the more I started to shed the IV Fluid weight. So keeping hydrated remains key. And now I’m lower than pre-op weight. I also found a book online. Emotional First Aid Kit Bariatric Surgery Patients to help hone some couping strategies for when I’m back in a world of doenuts. And that’s where I am folks! Just learning how to live in this Brave new world I’ve been born into. Much like a toddler, taking baby steps, learning what I can and can’t do. It’s still just a week, so I’m looking forward to more healing and the rewards which we all so freverantly seek. I hope my account is helpful to you. Sending you peace and love, Ellie123

Hello I started the process in December of 2007, and will meeting with the Surgeon for the first time on 2/28/08. I have completed the process in six weeks. I just loved the overnight sleep test!!!!!!!????!!! I will find out on 2/28/08 my surgery date, but each hospital works differently I work 10 minutes from the hospital so I was able to get all my appointment quickly and at lunch time. Others are not as fortunate because of the hospital location. Good luck and this is a good year to lose all the weight - like you I am so excited also 140 pounds to go. We can do it!

What is actually sad is that the only person in my family that has voiced their concern about my well being is my father, and he is the the one paying for the surgery. My sisters are mad because of it. To them, even though they are 19 and 23 it is "not fair" that I am having extra money spent on me. Especially for something "I can do on my own." That is actually the general consensus for the whole family. "I dont know why you cant just stop eating fast food three times a day and go to the gym." What really makes me mad is I do have a thyroid condition, and while it isnt hard for me to lose weight if I drop down to 1200 calories a day and work out 3 hours, if I stop doing that I WON'T maintain it. And I dont mean STOP and start eating fast food again. I mean the slightest slacking off and I stop losing weight and it is very discouraging. I work out 3 times harder than my 135 pound body conscience sister, but it doesnt matter because I am not as thin as her. Everyone is right when they say you don't have to defend your decision to go with WLS, and I didnt. I just think it is complete BULLSHIT that that people think because I am fat that it is TOTALLY fair that I DO work 3 times as hard as any skinny girl and that I should have constantly live in fear and depression of what I eat and how I live my life, AND STILL NOT BE THIN. I am so sick of hearing "Just do this... or Just do that"....you know what? Just kiss my fat ass because I know what I am doing is ultimately going to make me happy... AND you can say I did it the easy way, or whatever..but we both know who is going to look more attracting in the family photos for holidays come November and December this year. Jealous bitches. ::hops off soapbox:: Fine. I am through venting.

Good Morning, What is PCOS????? don't be upset I had the lap band put in 2-18-2008 erosioned 11-4-2009 taken out then I saw the scale climbing so I went back to the surgeon Dr.J.Myer at Rush or One Day I asked for a new Band he said no so I got the sleeve so in 2008 I weighed 278 I am 4 11 I looked like I was going to explode as I look on the pictures of myself at that time at the time the band was taken out 199 so nothing for 18 months shot up to 240 had the sleeve done 12-12-11 today I weigh 197. I am 62 years old and can't work out because of my heart and I have a heel problem that I am having ablations to kill nerves the pain stops me from walking as much I want to, but I must be doing something right the weight is coming off slowly but I think my age has a lot to do with that but weighing in at 197 I weighed that when I was 28 Yikkkes!! that was a long time ago. The sleeve is a tool it will help you but it will be up to you what you put in your mouth...... I cheat sometimes not just every day Sat: is my grdson's birthday I will take a piece of cake I remove most of the frosting to treat on special days is ok....I like my scale now at one time I dreaded getting on the dam thing and today I say a quick prayer to God to help me accept the number I see and if it is good ok if its bad ask myself ok what junk have I had....YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! are in charge how you are going to use this tool..... Be good to your self set small goal don't look at the bigger picture cause that will overwhelm you when I reached 75lb weight loss I bought myself a journey neckless pendent yes this a journey for the rest of your life. My husband and I have been married almost 43 years I have been wanting a new bridal set of rings so when I lose 100!!!!!!!!!!!!! what a miracle that God and the Blessed Mother have given me we are going to buy some serious BLING!! lol I told the Dr that at my last visit he laughed and said take it off during weigh in its going to be heavy.... take 10 lbs at a time it worked for me at every 10 lbs I treated myself to a tube of lipstick whatever but NOT some thing to eat. Gee I better get off my soap box.....as they say in 12 step meetings read this take what you want and leave the rest, we as humans don't always agree. Keep the faith, miracles happen I am one of them....... BIG OAK FOREST HUGS, Ann Raggedyann1949

Thanks everyone. See below for some answers to your questions. cyncitygirl: You are doing great. Don't stress about eating more yogurt than others - as a soft food it will go down easily. Once you are on solids you will see that you can eat much less. Even at almost a year out I can't eat more than 2.5 oz at the most of meat - and it's rare I even eat that much. I have greek yogurt routinely as one of my breakfasts - I like the Dannon Light & Fit - but I'll also use plain and then put SF Torani syrup in it to flavor. Those are 5-6 oz and I have no problem eating them though it takes a while. Lisa: Read what you wrote and think about it - 'only 101 pounds!' since May - Holy Cow - that is phenomenal!!! I know it's very hard to do but try not to compare your rate of loss to others. I always figured 10 lbs a month would be good and you are doing much better than that! Congrats on your success. As for my diet, I will say that my surgeon had a stricter program than most that I've read about on here. I was not allowed to have simple carbs (bread, Pasta, rice, etc.) and even nuts for the first six months. My main focus was on Protein. I was lucky if I could eat 1 or 2 T of veggies with that but, to be honest, lots of times that 1 or 2T caused me not to be able to keep the food down so in general I just stuck with protein. I also would never be able to get my protein in without having at least one shake a day. The overall plan that worked best for me over time and is essentially what my surgeon's program is was to stick with the following limits. Water - 100+ oz per day (I keep a 24 oz bottle of water a day with me at all times. I use Crystal Light - well really Walmart brand). I buy the individual packets even though they cost a little more. I set out four of them a day and that lets me get in 96 oz and I'll have another glass of water here or there. My favorite flavor is Fruit Punch. I never was a coffee drinker so the first bottle I have in the a.m. is one of the "Energy" versions which has caffeine in it - that's my 'coffee' which I usually have only on M-F when I'm working. Protein - 60+g per day - I get this usually by having either a Protein Shake or greek yogurt for breakfast; ham and cheese rollups for lunch and chicken, beef, etc for dinner. If I don't have enough in for the day after dinner sometimes I will make have the juice mentioned above and will mix a scoop of unflavored unjury powder into it. Hint: With Unjury I've learned to let it sit for a few minutes before drinking - it smells horrible and that gives time for the smell to go away. Carbs - Less than 40g per day - I track my food on myfitnesspal - I love that program. I have no excuses because it's always available online, through my iPad or iPhone. I've met other friends from VST on there and we encourage each other. I found earlier on that looking at others food diaries gave me good ideas when I was getting bored. Fat - I really never worried about how much fat I ate. Vitamins - I take Building Blocks chewables - a.m. = 2 Calcium, multivit, Vitamin D3; p.m. = 2 calcium, multivit, CQ10 - I also take a chewable Iron tablet in between those - must be at least 2 hours before or after calcium. Exercise: My surgeon started off with requesting at least 30 mins per day; 60 minutes later on. I was better in the beginning and would make sure I got out for a walk most days. I worked out with a personal trainer for a while once a week. I love to swim so when the weather was warmer I was swimming in my pool for 45-60 mins most days. Even in FL I can't do that right now. I followed the above pretty consistently for the majority of the year and in general ate an average of 600 calories or so when I was in my prime losing months. I have to admit that since having less than 10 lbs to lose, I've relaxed quite a bit and average more like 1000 calories these days. I have had to travel for work several weeks since the beginning of the year. I've still managed to lose at least a lb a week which I'm thrilled about. The fact is that once you have a sleeve it really would take some determination to truly overeat - at least if you stay away from sliders. If I eat more than I should I just tell myself it's a maintenance day. I think the most I've ever ate in a day would be 1800 calories which will not make me gain weight. I still try to make it a point to track on myfitnesspal regardless - it keeps me accountable. Hope this helps..... Stay with your program and you will do and continue to do Great! Susie

oh! I fell so bad I was banded on 4/10/08 I have only lost about 30