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I went back to pg 1 and read everything. You are amazing to have taken all those candid shots. 10 Years ago I had a Breast Reduction too... your scars brought me back. I am pleased to tell you that ALL of my scars are WHITE and very light coloured. If I was on a topless beach no one would notice them.... Unless I swim in COLD Water then they are a little purplish for a few minutes. I did not find the pain from the BR that bad. I was back to work in a week and no one was the wiser.. I DIDN"T TELL ANYBODY.. Breast SENSATION questions... no worries there.... because my surgeon did NOT remove my nipple stem, the blood supply is not cut off during surgery. They reshape the nipple smaller to proportionally size it to the 'new' breast but you retain sensation... I remember in my room after recovery lifting off one bandage to 'peek' at my new boobs... as soon as the cool air hit my nipple... it stood up to attention!! Whew was I happy. My neck and Back have been much better because I had this surgery.. As well, it make shopping for bathingsuits, bras tremendously easier. Presurg. I was a 40EE, today I am a 38D cup... still lots to love! But as my lapband does its job and I lose more weight I'll probably end up a 36 C.... I am waiting to see if I'll need a tummy tuck once I've gotten to goal weight. Right now, I am girdling it LOL

I was told that if my liver was too big, the surgery would be stopped. Thank goodness, my liver was small. In fact, I believe that was the first question I had in recovery, " Where they able to do the surgery?" I didn't have the Optifast diet. I was put on a 1000 calorie diet, which included 6 oz. of protein, a limited amount of veggies, fruits and starches. I was able to lose almost 10 lbs on it during the 2 week pre-op period. It is amazing how different our experiences are. I have friends that were on a modified Atkins plan. Thank goodness, we are all on the road to a successful journey. Since Monday I am down another 6.5 lbs! I am happy.

I had my gall bladder out 10 years prior to having my band

Thanks for sharing pics.. I had a reduction done 10 years ago and it was the best thing I ever did. Can't even see my scars now. I worry about needing another lift as I loose weight. Tummy tuck is for sure in my future. Thanks again for sharing.

I am waiting for insurance approval. When I had my consultation with the surgeon (Dr. Singh, St. Agnes Hospital, Baltimore) I told him my PCP was concerned because my liver enzymes were frequently elevated on my blood test for cholesterol. He told me that could indicate fatty liver disease moreso than a reaction to cholesterol medicine, and fatty liver disease can become non-alcoholic cirrhosis. He didn't say the surgery would be cancelled, just that while doing it he would take a sample for a liver biopsy to find out. Also once I get a date I have to do liquids 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after banding. The before is to help shrink the liver and make the surgery easier. Don't know if anyone has tried this or heard about it, but in the current issure of Prevention Magazine there is a short article about milk thistle as a supplement and its main ingredient silymarin. Says it can detoxify the liver and help fatty liver disease, which (I didn't know this) can lead to diabetes. They suggest 200 to 500mg of silymarin a day and note that not all brands have enough. Trader Darwin Milk Thistle at Trader Joes and Natures Way Thisilyn are two that do. I plan to tell the surgeon's office once I am scheduled because they will be adjusting my meds anyway. I have pretty much every co-morbidity except diabetes. From what I read you need to buy what has been standardized to 80% silymarin, which means my 250mg milk thistle capsule has 200mg of silymarin in it and it states that on the bottle. I got the Trader Darwin, about $10 for 100 capsules. Prevention recommends 200-500 daily so I take one twice a day which gives me 400mg. And they said to be sure and tell your doctor. I figure anything that makes my liver a better surgical risk. The Nature's Way brand is more expensive but is availble at places like the Vitamin Shoppe and online. Has anyone tried this? I would love to hear about some experiences. My sister had RNY about 2 years ago and her PCP actually put her on milk thistle (though she doesn't remember why, and plans to ask him).

I guess it depends on what "eating normally" means. Eating "normally" got me to almost 600 pounds. At 10-days post op my surgeon/NUTS program still had me on full liquids. I didn't progress to soft foods until the third week. What does your NUT advise? Whether or not you care what any of us say, I would highly suggest you care what your NUT and surgeon say. You are in their care. In the first few weeks after surgery eating "healthy" means allowing yourself to heal after major surgery. Following the food stages (texture) helps you to heal with a minimum of complications. So does focusing on getting enough Protein and fluids. I was cleared to get in the pool about 4 weeks post-op, once my incisions had completely closed up. I've been in the pool ever since.

They are taken for precautionary or if u have a history of blood clots, i know my surgeon gives it to every patient the day of surgery and 10-12 days after surgery.

To keep things lively and low carb in the kitchen, I have been experimenting. eggs will always be a love of mine, and as I was scanning the interweb I found a Paleo Fajita Frittata recipe. It looked delicious. I would have definitely loved to try some fresh peppers and onions in this recipe but it wasn't what I had on hand so I modified it a bit for my budget and pantry. It turned out delicious! 1 bag of moe's seasoned fajita veggies (3 in a package at BJ's for less than 5 dollars) 16 oz of round eye steak (Flank steak would probably work even better) 2 tbs chili powder 1 tbs cumin 2 tsp cayenne pepper (I might have added more, I like things HOT!) 2 pinches of pepper 10 eggs 1 cup of finely shredded mexican blend cheese First, grease the pan with a no calorie olive oil spray and set the oven to 350 degrees. Cut the round eye steak into cubes. Add your spices, and stir until spices are well mixed. Don't cook the meat through. Add frozen vegetables. Cook until softened, and cook the meat until desired color. Add cooked meat and vegetables to a 9x9 circular casserole dish. Scramble eggs. Add to casserole dish. Place in the preheated oven. Let cook for 20 minutes. For the next 10 minutes place on broil. Remove dish. Sprinkle cheese. Place back in for two minutes or until cheese is melty. Serve and enjoy! P.S. This is SUPER easy to make and really yummy says the boyfriend. Also, it has ridiculous amounts of Protein. I set the servings to 8, but I couldn't even finish a whole slice. However, it still calculates pretty high even if you finish 80% of said slice. :smile1: Fajita Frittata.bmp

I have also heard that for some, they believe the band causes people to be "slow losers" but I honestly think that everyone loses at their own pace, it just gets blamed on the band in a revision patient. I have spoken to so many revision sleevers and it seems to be about the same ratio of fast to slow losers as "virgin" sleevers. And going back to what CowgirlJane said, I think ANY weight loss surgery is going to be what you make it. Yes, the band was a flawed system that made it so much harder to eat the healthy foods... however, I know for me personally, there came a point with my band that I gave up trying to find my "sweet spot" and resorted to sliders. I had been through so many fill adjustments that my patience and, as a self pay, money, were running thin. I resorted to sliders to get through and it was a very easy and familiar way of eating, so I stuck with it, instead of continuing to try and get the most out of my band. Do I think that everyone can be successful with the band if they just try harder? No, of course not (myself included), and I don't think anyone should be expected to go through the insane number of adjustments it would likely take to actually find a "sweet spot" for a lot of us. But, I do agree with Jane that part of the success with the sleeve, at least for me, will really come from evaluating where I made poor choices with the band. And honestly, in a lot of ways, I am thankful for my last 10 years with the band... as much of a mess as it was, I feel like it's put me in a good place mentally to adjust to a sleeve and be committed to the program I need for long term success!!

I have the 10 .. but it suks thanks for the reply...

I had surgery on 10/12. I had a little pain the first few days that got better. So I stopped taking all pain meds. Now yesterday my main incision area is killing me when I go to move. I'm sure this is normal but frankly need someone to tell me that. Sorry to sound so needy just tired of this feeling and tired of sleeping on my back already. Thank you!!!!

Im on Optifast, week#2.... My favorite "recipe" 1 chocolate optifast 1 packet of sweetner 1-1 1/2 tbsps of decaf coffe crystals 11/2 cup Water Pack blender with ice, blend til smooth!!!! Also i find the bovril beef bouillon super helpfull 10 calories per packet. Lots of water and crystal light!! Msg me if u want to talk

I think it was the 8th week for me before I felt like myself again. I remember this because we went to Las Vegas for 10 days and I felt like a whole new person. My family literally could not keep up with me for a change. I walked over 8 miles a day and came back losing 10lbs on that trip. The weird thing was I was on soft foods at that stage just about to be released to regular foods. @@Djmohr how did you manage soft foods while eating out x 10 days?

I too was sleeved 10/29/15 Start weight 325 Current weight 248 I too like most are stalled and not eating as well as I should my goal weight is right around 200 just can't kick my eating habits right now still pretty restrictive but I tolerate just about everything so I eat kinda what I want just small portions obviously. Snacking I think is my major problem at the moment and finding time to workout which haven't in 4 months. Think I just need to know I'm not alone and vent. Hope everyone has kick started up again looks like last post was over a month ago. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

HI! Sleeved 10/22/15 HW 295 SW 287 CW 163 So glad I made this decision. I'm such a happier person. Hope everyone is doing well.

Thank you so much for the information. My husband is terminal. In saying that he has NASH non alcholoic cirrhosis and liver cancer which they caught to late because the Dr. WOULD NOT do a ct after I begged for two years because of his family history. He doesn't drink and never has. He doesn't smoke either and never has. Two brothers and his Dad died of cancer. He is just 48 and he really looks so much older. My heart is broken and I am just taking care of him as best I can. He isn't in pain and we are Christians and we know where he is going. We take off 25 lbs of Fluid every week from his tummy. It is gut wrenching to watch him. First picture is us last August, then last week, last pic is when we met 10 years ago. He was diagnosed in Jan. :'( I can't even think of my weight. I was almost to goal and have gained 15 pounds back. Mostly from sugary coffee drinks and creamy fudgesicles at night. Just pray for us if you believe in prayer. Because we do. Thank you so much.

I'm still struggling with liquid and protein. I have however started to drink a protein shake in the morning which gives me 32 grams od protein and 10 oz of water. Rest of the day I'm sucking on a water bottle. I no longer sip as I can take bigger drinks. I'll be 3 weeks post op this coming Thursday. So taking bigger drinks helps out some what. Thanks for all the feedback.

Hey everyone little late to the game but I'm in Manteca, CA surgery Sept 10 Fremont kaiser

@@mngreeneyes I'm so sorry they have told you they can't recommend it just because there isn't much research and they just "don't know." Personally I think that's a silly reason. If you are mindful and careful what is the danger? Here's my story... Overweight most of my life, truly obese following having my kids. Yo-yo-ing up and down the scale for years. Never much of an athlete after I quit swim team at age 10. In high school PE I was one of the girls walking in the back when everyone did runs. I started couch to 5k at a few weeks post op. Did my first 5k 4 months post op, had to walk about a third. First 10k 9 months post op. First half marathon 10 months post op. First full marathon 1.5 years post op. Can't tell you how many 5k's, 10k's and half's I've done but I have placed second in my age group and that same 5k I did my first one at the 2nd and 3rd time I did the same race post op, regularly place 1/2nd at 5 and 10k's and am doing my second full marathon next weekend! Don't let them tell you you can't. Sure injury is possible and yes you will often get hungrier when you're running. But be mindful and deliberate. Check how your joints and muscles are feeling and adjust accordingly. Develop a nutrition plan and stick to it, maybe adjust to the increase in hunger but not sure if I'd say "listen to your body" for food, we got fat listening to our bodies. Anyhow just wanted to say it can be done! I'm 2.5 years out and far below the goal weight my surgeon set for me. 17% body fat, wear a size 4 and am very healthy!

Awesome. I have Anthem BC/BS and they didn't take much time to approve me as well. I had surgery on 9/10. Please just make sure that this is definitely what you want to do. It's tough.

Sorry to barge in on your ladies . . . I notice the word AGAIN in the title, how about EVER, or FOR THE FIRST TIME? I was skinny as a youth, painfully so. Then as a young adult I was thin but had no muscle mass, just round sausage like arms and legs with no definition. It continued as I matured and got married and was pretty shapeless as a young married man, then started packing on the pounds and in a few years was a blimp. So I never HAVE felt sexy, till recently. I have a nice flat stomach with just a little sag in my abdomen and rear. I've started to work on my arms and they now have some swoops and curves in them rather than just straight lines. My legs also have some nice sculpture to them too and I at last feel at least somewhere past the Blah! level on the sexy-or-not scale. I know it's just my wife that gets the benefits but I am pleased that she finally has some "eye candy" to stare at too. I've had all the pleasure of visual stimulation all these past 30 years. One thing that "annoys" her is the fact that I look like 10-15 years younger now. I was pretty worn and haggard looking before, now I look a lot better. she is somewhat afraid that I will wander. I try and convince here that I'm hers and hers alone but she still has nagging doubts.

Toy27 - thank you, I didn't realize how that statement could be mis-interpreted. NO, I did NOT have any complications whatsoever, in fact, I breezed through recovery and felt pretty much normal about 10 days post-op. What I meant by saying that it's harder to stay the course the further out you are is in reference to how easy it would be to overeat and not suffer any consquences. I can eat sugar, Cookies, pie, cake, ice cream, candy, etc. and the ONLY thing that is stopping me from doing that is ME. I chose to have the sleeve so that I wouldn't get the death penalty (ie. RNYs can suffer from dumping syndrome, etc. when eating foods with sugar) because I wanted to be in control of what I eat. But sometimes it can be exhuasting to be so on-top of what I eat. So that is where the further out you are the harder it is to be on-top of your eating habits. I should say though that in some ways it's easier because eating smaller amounts of food seems completely normal to me now (at first it didn't) but now it's just 100% normal for me to portion out a small amount of food and that is what I plan to eat. So thanks again for asking for clarification on that!

I am in the process of making my final plans to have my gastric sleeve done in Mexico on 01/10/11, by Dr. Kelly or Almanza depending on the final cost. If I develop a leak while I am in Mexico after the initial sleeve surgery will I be out additional expenses or is that covered because it happended immediately after surgery. After I get home if I were to develop a leak in the first few weeks and/or months after surgery what would the cost of the leak repair be if I return to the doctor in Mexico.

Subject: One year and 85 lbs later The time has come for me to post my long awaited 1st year bandversary entry. What has my band meant to me? I have asked myself this question many times over the last 12 months. I’ve come up with a laundry list of ramblings. Preband – it represented HOPE, Anxiety, and the What if’s of life after WLS Early Post Band – the what the heck did I do? And WHERE THE HELL IS MY RESTRICTION? 1st Fill anticipation – I AM HUNGRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Where the hell is my restriction???? 2nd Fill anticipation – I am hungry but not AS MUCH or as often 3rd Fill anticipation – Restriction lasts for about 3 weeks 4th Fill anticipation – OK lets clamp this puppy down!!!!!!! 5th Fill anticipation – HOLY CRAP .3 cc’s was too much fill! I am only able to smell foods and sip soup 1’st UNFILL – removal of the .3cc’s was the difference between soup and FOOD……. And is where I’m maintaining at since January 2008. Also…. Getting an unfill and eating real food is what started the scale moving again. Things that have amazed me: I have POWER over my hunger. I have actually FORGOTTEN to eat. I CAN eat without drinking I CAN be full on very little food. Things that I have realized about myself: Restriction Wise I swell (get tighter) when I’m on my period or when I’m stressed I am tighter in the mornings and more open in the evenings. Foods that worked last week, might not work so well this week. I can raise my hands and do a little shimmy to pop up a stuck item of food Things that I have realized about myself: Non band I am a stress and emotional eater. I crave sweets around my cycle I am pretty happy and comfy in a size 12 It scares me to HOPE for a size 8 or 10 (because it is unknown to me) If I COULD eat pizza…….. I WOULD, so keeping a decent amount of fill is what is needed for ME not to be able to. Dairy Queen has become my go to place for stress eating (and this is NOT a good thing) Things that I had to overcome once banded: Realizing that you don’t HAVE to eat multiple plates of food at a buffet in order to “get your money’s worth” Realizing that people REALLY aren’t LOOKING at how much or how little you eat! Realizing that you CAN keep your band a secret if you want! Realizing that fast food joints don’t really offer much choice, Its cheaper to order an appetizer or alacarte, or split a meal with my 4 year old. Being banded is NOT rocket science, and for me it has worked well because I knew going in that FOR ME and MY GOALS I needed to be in diet mode, and truth be told the scale moves when I am IN MOTIVATED DIET MODE. It stalls when I Go to dairy queen for a small blizzard… but I don’t gain I chose the band for its adjustability and the hopes that I will for once in my life MAINTAIN a loss! Would I do it again? In a heartbeat Will I be rebanded if needed in the future? In HALF a heartbeat! My band has really given me the power over my appetite and that is priceless. Journey with me as I enter YEAR TWO of my Banding Experience

I dont really teach much other than basics (numbers, alphabet, animals, basic spanish/ASL, attempt manners lol) things to the younger classes and my a/s class is more for homework/relaxing activities. I talked with my bosses and they said that the wl is from eating right and working out, which is a great idea. However, I KNOW theyre going to ask about being out 2 weeks. Bosses said vacation, but do I lie to them and make up stories or...? Like I said, my kids are NOSEYYYYYY! Plus, parents will probably put 2 and 2 together between the drinks, being out, and wl and the kids will find out. Is there a 'kid friendly' version without it sounding like hey Im fat, but I shlopped my stomach and now Im better, then they get all "omg Im fat" lol I know it sounds weird but the way my aunt and uncle treated peoples weight made their (now 10 y/o, but its been for a few years now) daughter think shes fat and she obsesses over what she eats and her version of working out.. Perk though on a random note, EXCITED that after all this, the kids will stop asking "Miss Ashlee, why is your tushy so big?" Children really do say the darndest things lol!