Search the Community

My sister just went to Mexico and had the VSG done. Her insurance doesn't cover it at all-no matter what. Thankfully mine does. She had a very successful surgery last week, and has already lost 8 lb. I don't think I'd have the guts to go south to do it.

@judych HAHA i felt the same way the whole first week!! I saw food everywhere, asleep or awake! The second week gets a little better, and the third week still better... Finally nearing the end of week 3... Mushies here i come!! Finally!

BTW, at week 3 I also had refried beans wtih a little 2% melted cheese and Greek yogurt....the PLAIN Greek yogurt is like sour cream but healthy and high in protein! Add about 2 TB to a can of beans just because! It was like heaven!!

My first two weeks I wasn't allowed anything that wouldn't go through a straw. You don't want a leak and watch the avocados, healthier fat but HIGH in fat. You are in a honeymoon stage, easy to lose and now is when you start making life choices....for the second two weeks I had 'soft food' which was adding scrambled egg and cottage cheese, as well as creamed soup....98% fat free. Skim milk counts towards your 'water intake' and I started and ended each day with a cup....plus you're getting protein. I could NOT get in that much water, even putting lemon in it, but my RN DID finally tell me that tea and even coffee could count as liquids. I told her I could NOT possibly drink that much water. She said water is THE BEST choice, but just DRINK and watch the color of your urine. I drink little water, only when I'm out to eat, but even at over 2 yrs out, I still watch the color in the potty!!

it takes about 2 months for the scale to catch up to inches lost. it is so easy to become obsessed with the scale. focus on how your clothes feel. weigh only once a week, not every day!

jOANNE, I have had two fills with Dr. Valin. The first was at 6 weeks and the second 8 weeks after that. Supposedly I am supposed to get another fill after another 8 weeks. However, I think I am a little too full and have a call into their office about taking some out. Dr. Valin is very careful and doesn't want people to be too full. I have also lost alot of weight and I know he takes everything into consideration when determining when to do fills and how much to do. By the way, most CT docs have huge waiting lists now (for Lapband or Gastric Bypass) so be patient.

I love my parents weight watchers scale, the one they have saves 4 profiles, with age, height, and weight. It figures BMI, Water, and weight. I weigh myself when I stop over to check on them so at least once a week. It's a really nice scale and they got it for around $30 at Walmart.

None, in fact they took me off all supplements and some of my prescriptions for 2 weeks pre-op. I'm pretty sure there were antibiotics in my IV cocktail though. No issues with infections and I was out of the hospital a day early after only 24 hours.

These Popcorners are delicious and healthy my Nutrition approved them and I'm almost 2 weeks post op. Had surgery March 10th.

Went to Tijuana to have a Tummy Tuck last week and took some photos of us on our way and on our way back

Bandster Hell is the first 30 days after surgery, before you get your first fill, when you are on liquids and mushies. It's great at first because just post surgery you aren't really hungry because everything is still swollen and tender...but THEN you hit about the two week period and all hell breaks loose. The band isn't restricted yet (yes, it is NOT working yet) and you are STARVING and can still only have liquids and mushies. I actually did reasonably well during this period. I just kept eating cottage cheese and puddings and lots of jello and thing that gave me the feeling I was eating instead of drinking. You get really starved to CHEW something. Most everyone goes through a period where they feel they will chew their leg off.

I am not sure if you're asking me, I THINK you are! If so, I am doing great, three years today. Right now I was in surgery, or at least I was "out of it" and headed that way!! I reached goal in six months, MY goal, which was five lbs less than my physician's....I got to his goal, 150, a month earlier. I'd say YES, the first six month is a real honeymoon period. Follow the plan, under eat your sleeve. Log your food, weigh and/or measure your food and weigh daily so you'll know where you are at. Develop these good habits, let them become your new normal, your life. To me, it's habit, just like breathing. Good luck to you, you'll be shocked at how different your life is a year from today!!!!

I just started my 2 week liquid diet today!

I had something as you described done in June. I have lost 81 pounds. I had a stomach stapling in 1980....I only lost 11 pounds. The staple line came lose and therefore I had two stomachs. The doctor said that was why I was unable to lose weight all of these years. The Dr told me he recommended a combination (some call it a modified DS). Because of my stomach problems they were unable to form a sleeve and just made a small pouch. I haven't had any problems except when I eat too fast or don't chew good enough. You will need lots of Protein and be on Vitamins for the rest of your life. So far my labs have been good......just my thyroid is like it is on a roller coaster....still trying to level it out. I feel I am a slow loser compared to others on this board.....but I am older and probably don't do as much exercising. Losing slow is ok.....they say you are more often to keep it off. I have gone down three...almost four sizes.

Vacation in San Diego was cold, but nice and Catalina Island was georgeous. We spent the week walking everywhere, hiking trails and(crawling) up cliff sides.lol to get to secluded beaches. I realized how out of shape I really am, but it was all good and it gave me a jumpstart for when I got back home. I just wish that the first fill would have given me a little help when it came to cravings:) Although I didn't gain anything, probably due to the constant exercise, I ate more than should have. O well, it's a new week and a week away does a mind and body good. Back to work and school.

Well as i have stated in my previous blog my surgery was rescheduled for June 2. I was bad all last week and i didnt have very much fun being bad.:smile2: I had done the pre op diet the two weeks prior of low fat/carb and no greasy foods. Well this week i was happy i could go to taco bell and eat greasy food BUT everytime i ate something bad my stomach would get REALLY upset:huh2:. So much for enjoying my last week of bad food. My abcess is doing great almost gone.:tt1: I had to go to the doctor and they had to pack it bc it was a big whole in my behind and they didnt want my skin to grow over and not let it heal on the inside:embaressed_smile:. My husband and i went and bought a grill yesterday. He insisted on grilling everything in our frig (ex. sausage, boudain sausage, chicken fajitas).:thumbup: lol. So that was interesting. Tonight i am going to my grannies to have my last bad dinner the second time around lol. I think we r having wings. :drool:My husband is up for a promotion at work so thats reallllly awesome, i am very proud of him.:thumbup: I love this website. I have never been the kind of person to blog (i dont even do myspace and im 20). :wink2:I guess im so interested bc my body is going to be goin through alot of changes and i know i can rely on the great people here to help me out with questions. Its just a very positive website and i dont think iv seen a negative comment or slander against anyone! Well i will quit blabbering! I hope everyone has a great day!:cursing: Mandi Jo

When I travel I keep Protein bars and fruit in my bag. There's lots of airport food I can eat if I choose to. I can eat almost anything. As for steakhouses, I always order the smallest filet or split the large one with my DH with a side of potatoes or green veggie. It won't be so hard after the first couple of weeks. You'll get in a groove.

I am a post op sleever. I had a lap band and it ulcerated requiring removal. Since getting the sleeve (5 mths ago) I have lost 95 lbs and about 10% of that was my hair (insert sarcasm here.) I was struggling to get in all my protein and fluids, ended up hospitalized for dehydration which also lead to a UTI and kidney stones. I recently found out about Zija which is a product of Moringa Oleifera. If you don't know what this is, research it please! I believe every WLS patient should be on it. It's 100% organic and unlike our typical vitamins that all of us are required to take post surgery, that have a 10 % absorption rate, Zija has a 100% absorption rate. In addition, it has every vitamin from a-z. Within a week I stopped losing my hair and within 2 weeks I stopped taking all of my meds. I only take Zija and I'm not struggling to get my protein or fluids in anymore because of all the meds I took. I was spending roughly $165 a month in just vitamins, supplements, etc and now I spend less than $100 plus I'm saving over $300 by not having to take any of my meds. I feel great and am truly living a healthy lifestyle. facebook.com/ninetynutrients or ninetynutrients.myzija.com Email before ordering as you can get it for wholesale.

Hello! I am so glad that I found this thread! PTL! My name is Carey, and I am a stay at home mom to three great kids, and a fabulous husband. I have been battling a weight problem for the last 11 years (started with ppdepression after I had my daughter). For the last year I have been struggling with the idea of getting the band. Last August I went through all the tests and had a September date set, and then a week before the surgery I backed out. I have a lot of unsaved people in my life, and some who are saved and battling their own addictions. I felt that I had this HUGE problem that if I could just move myself out of the way and let God handle it, then what a testimony it would be for the Lord. Maybe some of my loved ones would get saved! 1 Cor 10:13 says "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." In my mind I felt that I would be sinning if I chose a different path (ie. lapband), never considering that the band might be my way out. I was so afraid that in my hugest accomplishment I wouldn't be a witness for the Lord, because when I do lose my weight, others are going to ask me how I did it and then when I say "lap band" they will shut down and all talk of God will mean nothing to them. My friend/mentor told me flat out that I was being silly! That maybe this was my way out and remember Luke 16:31 “But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even if someone rises from the dead.’” Just because I give credit to God, doesn't mean they will turn to Him. People see God's divinity all the time, and they still don't believe. But she said that maybe MY walk with the Lord was what is most important right now. And the scripture that keeps coming to mind is Mark 9:43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell[i] with two hands.[j] 45 If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one foot than to be thrown into hell with two feet.[k] 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out. It’s better to enter the Kingdom of God with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where the maggots never die and the fire never goes out.’ I have to stop sinning, and I won't do it on my own. So I can't keep beating myself up for needing the band. Just like it would be better to pluck out your eye, or cut off your had, maybe it is better to band my stomache. So, I gave it up to the Lord, and I called my surgeon back, and I am scheduled for the 29th. Although they could have gotten me in as soon as the 14!:wink2: I am giving it to God and if He doesn't want me to do this then like you said, He will put roadblocks in my path. But so far, I got my date, my stuff is done, and my ins has 100% approved and covered my surgery. But I am still scared to death. Thanks again for this thread and saying what you said. You made me feel so much better about my decision and now I know Satan is tormenting others with the same lie he has tormented me with for the last year and a half. God CAN get the glory even if I have the band. God bless you all! Sorry for the long post, but I apprently needed to unburden! Thanks again! Carey

Hi there. I am 4 months post-sleeve and 2 months post gallbladder removal. I'll share with you from my experience at least, but as someone mentioned talk to your doctor cause there ARE medicines to help. I started experiencing the diarrhea pretty much right after my GB was taken out and it comes and goes. I was told by my doc that my body is going to take some time, probably a few months, to get used to a constant drip of bile now being inserted directly into my intestine. Now that the GB is gone, that used to hold bile and wait for fatty food to come down the path and then GB would squeeze the bile out to digest the fat down. Now without that "reservoir" the bile is constantly dripping like a faucet directly into my intestine. Unfortunately I couldn't find many online articles about wls and gb removal so it took me a while to figure out why this is a problem and what I can do to mitigate. If too much bile is in the intestines for the fat content that is there (I'm sure you can relate: I'm afraid to eat cause I'm afraid of whats gonna happen so I go extra long between meals), the extra bile causes my intestines to become like a slick no matter what i eat, bam diarrhea. If I eat too much, meaning a meal that makes me feel uncomfortably stuffed with my tiny tummy, there is too much food/fat content in my intestines for the amount of bile that's there and then the food passes through undigested and bam diarrhea. This is especially true for me when it's a fattier meal (good or bad fats, Peanut Butter gets me sometimes) and/or if it's a meal late at night say after 6pm. So for me... 1. eat something nutritious every three hours tops regardless of if i'm having diarrhea now or not. If i don't eat now i'll be in misery later. 2. stay away from food with over 30% fat versus Protein and carbs. supposed to focus on protein anyway. 3. drink fluids, i can't get dehydrated or then i lose all appetite and the will to fight. 4. instead of imodium, i take an antispasmodic prescription medicine my doc prescribed that's often used to treat irritable bowel syndrome. Imodium dries out the stool whereas the antispasmodic stops the cramping and binding so its a lot more effective for me. I'm clinging onto the hope that this is a temporary adjustment, and have seen many people say anywhere from 3 to 6 months things "even out." Hope this helps and take care of yourself.

Yes. It took me at least 6 weeks to even have some resemblence of energy. Your body has had major surgery and my surgeon said it can take up to 6 months to feel back to normal. I just rested as much as possible. I took naps when I needed to.

My surgeon has me doing a pre-op diet 2 weeks before surgery consisting of slim fast low carb shakes 3 times a day and 1 small meal. He said that it helps with some fat around the liver and stomach and makes the surgery easier. He said even losing 10 pounds pre op makes a big difference for him when it comes to the surgery. Starting mine Monday. Not looking forward to it but going to try my best! :w00t:

A pre op diet is meant to help shrink your liver and get rid of some fat around it. If you have too much going on around your liver then your doctor might not be able to do the surgery. That would be terrible to wake up and be told you couldn't get the band. I have a low BMI so we weren't worried about my liver. I did however start doing more liquids, reducing my food portions etc a week before my surgery.

My surgery was May 17th 2011. I am almost at 4 months. My starting weight was 221 and today I am at 185. Some weeks it seems to melt off and others the scale doesnt move. Good luck Kat

This month has been rough for me. I left my husband because of his drinking, my five year old started Kindergarten, and I've already gotten phone call from his teacher about his behavior, now I found out I have a parasite that's been making me sick for over a week. I thought I had a normal stomach virus, but come to find out after testing it's a parasite. I had to go to hospital yesterday to get fluids because of this. I'm miserable and haven't eaten hardly anything in a week. I should be getting better now that the problems been identified and I'm getting meds. Just had to vent a little