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I think if you can find a way to afford it, you are not crazy for wanting to have the procedure. I am 4'8" and weighed 215 just before I had the procedure on 09/08/10. I've lost 30 lbs (including from when I started on pre-op diet) now and people are really noticing. I turn 40 this next year and I was just ready to be healthy and to look good of course. Good luck to you.

Oh no, sorry to hear about the denial. I know you and I were waiting for the insurance process around the same time. I was wondering the same thing that Amanda 3.0 said. Maybe insurance can make an exception. Can you get documentation from your doctor or neurosurgeon? Definately, the low-carb diet should get those 10 lbs off. Maybe try doing a 1000 calorie low-carb diet and make sure to get all of your water in. You can track your calories on sparkpeople.com. I started this on Wednesday as my preop diet and I already lost a few pounds. Good luck!! Keep us posted

After my surgery I tried to go for a walk for 10 minutes every hour for the first couple of days. I think it helped my recovery a lot. If you can't stand to do 10 min even 5 will help!

Is Bandster Hell any worse than Pre-op diet. I have been essentially on liquids for 10 days. The first 3 days were awful but after that it was ok. I can't see how it could be worse than that.

mine was 10 yrs ago and i found the same...i have been banded only a month so im curious to see how it does

I got sleeved 10/10/18 and still in hospital hopefully getting discharged tmrw. I packed a book bag full of stuff and I only used my chapstick, phone charger, face wash and toothbrush. FOR ME I find it easier being in the gown. It's the easiest when I go pee to just have it opened and not have to worry about pulling down and up my underwear since it really does hurt sitting down and getting up. Also I found it easier with the gown when I took a shower, just slip off then slip on a new one but again that's me. Best of luck to you!

Good morning from Anchorage Alaska! Congratulations on your surgery! You are on a life long journey for a healthier you. Bypass is a tool that I believe God has given us to use. What a blessing! I had Gastric Bypass 16 months ago on the 16th of this month. I have lost more weight than my surgeon told that I would and have had to revise my weight loss goal! He told me I would loose 75 pounds, I have lost 100 pounds and feel great! Well, with following orders and exercising, Protein and Water I have exceeded his prediction. When I went for my last doctor visit my blood work showed that my body was absorbing nutrients very well, so well that my doctor asked what kind of Vitamins I was taking and I told him the bariatric vitamins and some of my own that I had previously taken. He asked me not to take vitamins everyday for the next 6 months but only once per week. I was 61 when I had my bypass and am now 62 and glad that I did it. My family was afraid for me at first. But I did my research before the surgery and was able to put their mind at ease. I exercise and get in at least 60 grams of protein each day with sips of water every 10 to 15 minutes. I have had no physical or medical complications from the surgery. I now realize how much time and energy I have spent in the past relating to food. I no longer do that! That's freedom! I have cravings sometimes but I look at where I was and compare it to where I am and decide if I am really hungry or if I'm experiencing head hunger. Usually real hunger is for natural foods not carbs or sugary foods. When you follow the protocols for this surgery it works and you develop new habits that can carry you through the rest of your life. Scripture and Prayer has helped me. Scriptures like Galatians 5:1 and Philippians 4:13. I plan to live this way for the rest of my life. How about you? Again Congratulations to you. Love to hear from you! Vickiebc

Friday, I went in for my EGD, after having my preliminary consultation with the Gastrointerologyst on 10/30. I've seen lots of questions about the EGD on here, so I thought I'd just share my experience, top to bottom. The first thing that surprised me was that when they called me to schedule my date, they told me the hospital would call me the day before the procedure to let me know the time. I thought that was a little strange, but apparently, that's par for the course. I actually got the call on Wednesday afternoon, for the Friday appointment time. Then I got a follow-up call on Thursday from admitting to get me pre-registered. When I got done with the pre-registration, I got my second surprise: my portion was going to cost me $606. I guess I should have expected it, because it's not exactly a copay office visit situation. That was my 20%. The hospital was pretty efficient. They are notorious for bad parking, and now they have valet parking, which was very convenient. I signed in at the information desk, and they gave me a little pager like the one's they use at restaurants. About 5 minutes later, I got called in to admitting, got checked in and paid my fee. I was then sent down to the GI waiting room. In probably less than 10 minutes, they called me in to get me prepped. I only removed my shirt, leaving on the pants, socks & shoes. The IV was started, they took my BP and temperature, and they wheeled me into the hallway next to the room where they do the procedure. Seeing my doctor, I said hello and commend on how good he looked that day! In fact, I gave the same complement to each of the hospital staff. I don't know if it helped, but it certainly didn't hurt! Maybe 10 minutes later they wheeled a woman, passed out, from the room and another 5 minutes later, wheeled me in. After a little light discussion, the doctor had heard enough and told the dope guy to put me out. The last thing I remember was a slight lucid feeling and asking the dope guy, "you gave me the juice, huh?" He confirmed, and I was out. Just like that. During the procedure I recall a brief moment of the bite thing in my mouth. I'm guessing they were finishing up. I think I remember being wheeled out, but can't quite be sure. Seemingly moments later, I woke up, sat up, put my shirt on, and I was on my way to go get some soup. Overall, on the day of, I had a little discomfort in my throat, not unlike when you have a cold and you get a sore throat. I napped a bit after getting home, then in the evening, I was a little tired, but managed to busy myself and stay awake. My throat continued to be a little sore on Saturday, but less so, and by Sunday, I was fine. The doctor, apparently found some polyps in my stomach and took samples for biopsy. I'm not sure when I'll hear back on that. Does anyone have any experience with this part?

I just returned to after 10 business days off. I took a half day today. But besides being a little tired I'm okay! I also have a desk job.

Yes and I just asked my surgeon about this yesterday at my 10 day post op. He said you can order a stuff called dexcom from bariatric advantage. And yes it's ketosis from your body consuming more protein then anything else. I am in the same boat with you all on this. But I've been cleared to go to puree and it gets better.

Just finished my 6th day of the diet and feeling surprisingly good. Soup is really helping. Today I'm under 600 cals and I'm not hungry, but I am sleeping a lot more. Down 10 lbs!

I had my gastric bypass Dec. 10th. I have been doing fine I have been getting 60oz of fluids down and 30mg of protein every day, Well today I started worrying that I am doing something wrong. My weight loss has been slow 12.5 pounds since surgery. How much protein was everybody else doing 10 days out. Its hard to get down 3 oz at a setting. I don't want to mess myself up.

Just have a question for all of you veteran sleevers! I was sleeved 10 days ago and was wondering if I will ever be able to have something sweet again ... Like a taste of a cookie... Cupcake ... Or anything else. ? I know these foods will never be part if my daily diet anymore but I have heard conflicting reports that we can never have sugar again... That the sleeve will not tolerate it... That we will throw up . True? Just curious ?

It all depends. Some people really can't stomach the sugar, but many of us can. My advice, for whatever it's worth, is that it's a little early to worry about what you can or can't "ever have again." You need to think through what your triggers are, and how you handle junky eating in general, now while you are recovering. If sugar is a trigger for you (meaning it sets off a chain reaction in you and you have to have more) then I'd put off testing your sleeve with it as long as you can. Most of us have a little list of things we can or can't eat without discomfort. Sugar is okay for me, but it doesn't trigger me and there's not really a lot you can have when you are limiting carbs. It's just not a good choice in general. At 10 months out there are few foods that I can't tolerate, but my way of eating has changed significantly.

In my preop classes that is wat our nurse instructor kept emphasising. .it's not your last time! I believe this may be a issue where surgeons are or may have different views..per my surgeon dietician I can have have 10 grms per serving or less at one time. I have been reading labels for yrs anyway so no problem to make sure. But I have also for yrs use stevia an got away from sugary items. I wouldn't worry about this right now. Concentrate on getting tummy healed. My internists told me that it could take up to 6 months to heal totally inside. So I still don't even pick big things up. I'm 9 wks out..I do like the WW fudge pops, the WW red velvet tiny bite size sandwich . Its just enuff to satisy! Talk to your surgeon at your next follow up. Follow ur protocol. .

Sleeved on 10/7/15 have PCOS lost 40lbs already but my menstrual finally came after 2 yrs I also have the ROD as a form of birth control plus I already have 2 kids

Hi all - I am two weeks out from surgery. I felt great after surgery for a couple of days until I developed a hernia from pushing my 70 pound lab off my lap! Regardless, I have absolutely no sense of fullness. Not even any of the "subtle" ones. I have experimented with some mushy foods (chicken, carrots) and those didn't make me feel full despite eating half a cup of them. Also nothing I've eaten makes me sick - although I haven't had too wide a variety. I am super scared I will have to rely solely on my "willpower" to continue losing weight after the first few weeks. I have lost all the Fluid weight I gained in both surgeries (bypass and hernia) and 10 more. If I don't have any full sensation and no dumping syndrome, I'm not sure this will end up working very well for me. Has anyone else had this? Did it resolve? I am very worried about this! Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

im so scared i am not going to lose this 10 lbs i am so ready for surgery right now. how could i not lose it by the end of aug. i feel like a failure at this moment

I'm 6.5 mons postop and I know the struggle those first few weeks postop. I didn't start losing weight right away either. My surgery was in Feb. I didn't notice any weightloss until May. I don't own scales so I only weigh at the doc. My husband finally had to tell me to go buy new clothes because everything was way too loose on me. So relax, heal and take the time to mentally adjust to the weight loss. It's a huge change in a short time. I went from a 18/20 to a 9/10 in 4.5mons. I'm still adjusting to being skinnier!

I've tried cottage cheese, but still can't get past the texture. I do OK with chicken salad, but seems like just about everything else, sits like a rock. I take small bites, wait 10 minutes between. Thank you for all the feedback. Guess it'll be chicken salad and Protein shakes a little while longer Sent from my HTC One A9 using the BariatricPal App

Ditto! They gave us 3 full 12 oz glasses of like a Gatorade the following day, I drank almost all. They want you to drink and our NUT said she was not worried about drinking liquids. 10 days out today. Sent from my SM-G900H using the BariatricPal App

Day 11 here 1/10/17 and feeling great. Not much further out, but if you are feeling energized you will feel this way for a while. I flew back from Mexico 4 days after, no problems. Just make sure to walk around don't veg out all day long. Walk and do normal things when you get home (not lifting heavy of course), the day after I went to laundromat, the store, and back to work. I haven't been doing lifting (dog hotel), just little dogs around 10 lbs. They said end of month could lift 20 lbs. Make sure you drink, and keep hydrated. DO NOT taste things because it just makes you want them more I made boudin (Louisiana sausage w/rice) for my hub and it's nothing I ever want to eat, but licked that fork and damn, I want some. Staying on track ready for pureed this Mon-Wed, just trying to hold on. sleep on your back, definitely sleep on back for a while. Keep your broth, puddings, drinks at home/work anywhere you will be so that you don't have to trek out.

My goal is to lose 38% of my total starting body weight. I state it that way because people (those who I've confided in) tell me "you don't need that surgery." Even my bariatric surgeon (who I think is great) looked at me as they were prepping me for surgery and said "no one would believe you are a bariatric patient." These statements bother me because this is not an easy decision for anyone who makes it. I am 4' 11". I have never been 5' and will never be. My BMI is 35.3. I am 57 yrs old. I have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, have been diagnosed as pre-diabetic, have joint pains... I can go on. At my highest I weighed 175 lbs. My body knows I'm obese. I have lost a lot of weight, several times and in-between I was either losing or gaining. I always gained more back. My sister (5' 4") and I lost a lot together a few years and then we both gained it all back and then some. Last year my sister confided in me that she was 4 weeks post surgery for the sleeve. I was shocked. I wasn't in the mindset to start another diet again yet but surgery seemed extreme. I read her brochures and listened to her process and still doubted. I saw her again this last summer (lives a couple of states away) and after 8 months, she lost 65 lbs and looks great! I watched her and she behaved "normally". She didn't dwell on food and she didn't require a special diet. She was enjoying her new life with her new body. I was tired of failed diets. I went to the next information session on bariatric surgery. Three months later I had sleeve surgery. I don't want to review my status right now because I know I am healing and changing and any issues are temporary. I can tell you that I am down 15 lbs (10 day pre-surgery diet and first days of clear liquids). Kudos to my sister who is my support group.

I am scheduled for 01/29/2015 too, so excited and nervous at the same time.

My surgery was on 7/6. I went in at 11:30. They did all the preop stuff, paperwork etc. I was given a patch behind my ear for nausea as well as a shot for nausea. It seemed to take forever before my surgery finally got started. All I remember is the anesthesiologist giving me a shot of something in the IV. He and the nurse kept talking to me all the way to the OR. I remember about 10 seconds in the OR and then I was in recovery. I had very little pain, just difficulty breathing from the anesthesia. I can remember thinking my blood sugar feels so low I wish they would give me something to eat. I was taken up to my room and the nurse right away brought me sugar free jello and some broth. I was able to eat it right away and get up and walk. The night went pretty well. I did get regular pain shots because I wanted to keep feeling good instead of waiting until I didn't. I was released around 9:30 the next morning. I came home and pretty much stayed in bed and did a little bit of walking just inside the house. Sleep that night was a bit challenging without the hospital bed. The next day I felt completely fine. I have not been using the vicodin since the first day home. I actually went with my kids to chuck e cheese and then to the grocery store yesterday and then went to Mothers of Multiples last night. I already feel more energetic than ever and can't wait to really start seeing the weight fall off!! This went better than I thought it would, no gas pain, no nausea, very little pain at the incision. All of you waiting good luck!! I know I made the right decision.