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I am very scared cause as of my nut appt i am up 13lbs from my original surgeons visit weight! And they wanted me to lose 10... yikes! so the next 2 months i have to lose 23 lbs, or i am guessing i can't get the surgery on time. OH BOY!!!

Surgery date: June 26 Heaviest weight: 284 Current weight: 190 I’m 10 pounds away from my goal weight! So now I have a new goal weight 😂 I am VERY proud of what I’ve accomplished and the changes I’ve made in my life and in my diet.

Hey everybody, this is my first posting so I hope I do it right. My name is Barry, I'm 41 and just got banded on 10/23/06 by Dr. Spivak at the surgery center. Once again it seems that everyone associated with Spivak are top notch people. Everyone was so nice and the surgery was a breeze. This morning I got up and felt pretty sore, which is normal I know, but the soreness was very noticable this morning.....ouch. I didn't sleep very well last night and ended up on the couch, I just couldn't get comfortable. I haven't been truly hungry yet but I did have a small packet of grits this morning as I felt a burning sensation in my stomach. The grits went down just fine and that stopped the burning. I was weighed yesterday morning at the surgery center and came in at a sad 284lbs. but thats alright I didn't get this way overnight and it won't come off over night. I am very committed to this new challenge in my life and look forward going through this process with everyone else.

Hello fellow realizers! This the real deal!! I have posted a few times but never really did give you any information about myself so wanted to send out an introduction Here are my stats: 35 5' 206 highest weight ever 01/08 Went to more than one surgeon before choosing the one that did my procedure 39 BMI 199 06/12/09 188 07/01/09 I was banded 6/25/2009 - the day Michael Jackson died 5 incisions Hiatel Hernia Repair I did not do a pre op diet Insurance paid after 6 mo supervised diet (i was already doing this at the Joslin Diabetes Center prior to even thinking of the lap band and was also going to weight watchers - so it was easier to provide the documentation for me than others), Letters of Recommendations from PCP & and in my case, my diabetiologist who was extremely supportive of me, I had to a go to a couple appointments to see my surgeon, see a psychiatrist, see an additioanal nutrition, and go to a couple seminars. Plus, show a 5 year weight history, proof of type 2 diabetes, proof of sleep apnea, & several boold tests/choloestoral results Married to a great man who was once very heavy but lost at least 100lbs in his 20's so he totally understands weigh issues - we have know each other 12 yrs, been together 10 yrs, and married 4 yrs. No kids. 2 Cats. We live in Baltimore City. I am a Medical Library at a local university and am basically the School of Social Works librarian so I have approx 1000 people I serve as a librarian. I truly love my job. I was born and raised in Pratt Kansas. Moved to Tulsa at 19, the to Port Aransas Texas, then to Topeka Kansas, then to Portland Oregon, then to Kansas City Kansas, then Emporia Kansas, then back to Kansas City Missouri, then landed in Baltimore MD and love it here! I love to travel, be the center of attention, take care of others, listen to music, socialize, and help others to be happy. :redface: I am SO READY TO DO THIS -- ready to look the way I feel in my mind!! ready to not be dependent on medication! actually I have a list of 100+ reasons why i want this!!!!!! I will be figuring out the rules of the board as I go. <3 Anna

Cherry you are singing my song! =) I have been b!tch!n' about this from the beginning. What somebody at the top of the thread said is true, plus size clothes will fit you for 20 pounds, regular sizes about 10. I was still wearing pre-op trousers well past the 50 lbs lost mark and I have a pre-op shirt that I wore to work last week, I've lost 128 pounds! I have a pair of bootcut cords from JCrew in a 12P that I have been wearing for THIRTY pounds now, wtf!=P I found them at a thrift shop for $4 (mega score since they go for $75 new). I had just crossed into one-derland and at 194 lbs I had also officially joined the century club (surgery day weight 294. So those pants mean a lot to me and even though they literally cut off circulation they were so tight lol, I was able to zip and button them and it felt amazing! Obviously they were too tight so, like someone said in this thread, it makes sense that I could lose weight and they would still fit. But it has been 30 pounds now and they are still a little snug IMO, I'm pretty sure that it will take another 20 pounds at least before they are visibly baggy and maybe 30 pounds before they are unwearable which will mean that I will have been wearing the same pair of trousers for SIXTY pounds, wahhh?!!!

Patience is a virture- Be Virturous!!! If that doesn't work go get a banna split - LOL LOL All kidding aside you need to stay vigilante through this process. It is sometimes(like mine was) a very long & tuff road. But the good news there will be a "pot of skinny" on the other end. Be good to your self during the process & try not to have to many "last suppers" I ended up gaining over 10 pds while getting my date. It took me nearly 7 mnths. In the end I ended up being self pay anyway. I wish you luck & stamina!!!

It sounds like lymphedema to me. I wasn't sure what superficial thrombosis was so I had to look it up. Since it is similar to varicose veins and varicose veins are common with pregnancy, maybe that is what it is. According to this article, there really isn't a test for superficial thrombosis. http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/heart-and-blood-vessel-disorders/venous-disorders/superficial-venous-thrombosis I have SVT with multiple clots. Post op complication. I was actually sent to the ED by immediate care. The only diagnosis of SVT is ultrasound. If your doc says you have SVT without a scan I am speechless. SVT can "propagate" into the deep veins, DVT and PE. But more likely to get infected than to propagate. In any case, they're blood clots and should be studied. I have a repeat scan in 10 days to see if they are propagating. If they are the treatment gets more aggressive.

I'm so glad to have found this site. It's been 10 months since my surgery and I don't think I'm doing very well. I can't stop eating bad foods...all the sweets and junk food. Funny how all the good foods get stuck but the garbage just slides down so easily. Sec... *popping in another M&M*... There I'm back now. Why is it that I'm so hungry all the time? I thought we were only supposed to be able to eat 1/2 cup of food at a meal but I can eat so much. I'm sure I've stretched my pouch. I've had plenty of fills and if I get anymore, I'll end up not being able to eat anything but liquids. Not what I want. I've lost 40 pounds so far but have not lost anything in the last 4 months. I have to lose another 40 more pounds but it's not going to happen if I keep eating this crap and being hungry all the time. Also, does anyone else throw up a lot? I get food stuck all the time and I throw up at least 3 or 4 times a week. And I still don't lose weight. I think I paid $20,000 to become a bulemic. Except that I don't lose weight. Any suggestions would be appreciated.........PLEASE!!! I need some motivation. Thanks Wendy

looking awesome! and the hair looks great! sleeved 12-19-11

Shape Shifter Are you home now? Thanks for the info I will add the wound type band aids to my list . I am getting in ( flying in ) the afternoon before my surgery so that will be a little different for me but I imagine I will hit the operating pretty early the next morning . You already lost 10 pounds was this during your pre -op diet ? I start mine on Saturday and am determined to be good and faithful to the cause

Welcome back to the wagon. To make my summer exercise more fun, I am taking it outdoors. I made my back yard into a fitness trail. For example, I start at the picnic table and do some pushups by pushing from the bench. For othopedic reasons, I can't do them flat on the ground. Then I march to the oak tree and do squats, the I speedwalk to the shed and back several times. Then from the shed I carry 10 pound handweights and do lunges in a lap around the yard and then to the pine tree and do exercises with the handweights, like backward rows, chest flys, and deadlifts, then back to the picknic table for a rest and drink of Water. Then befor I go in, I do walking laps several times around the yard. While I am outdoors, I am also getting some Vitamin D sunshine. Exercise doesn't have to be boring - just get creative. I even put on loud crazy music while I am puttering around the house doing housework. You can also put on your favorte music like no one is watching. I have 34 DVDS for exercise, so that I could have variety. I will admit my favorite is Richard Simmons Sweating to the Oldies. You can do this with your refreshed commitment to take care of yourself.

I had my gastric sleeve surgery on Friday, January 19, 2018 and would love to connect with fellow January sleevers! Would love to hear your progress and share some of my stories, struggles, and successes! So far, I've lost 12.6 lbs although that seems to have stopped after the first week of surgery. It's discouraging but I keep reminding myself that this is a process, a journey. I didn't gain the weight overnight so I can't realistically expect to lose it all overnight either. And hey, 12.6 lbs is the most I've ever lost in just a week so I really am not complaining. But I, like many others I suspect, have struggled with my weight so long that I'm just ready for it to be GONE. Rather than focus on what I'm not losing, I am trying to focus on what I have lost, and what I will continue to lose. My weight loss goal is 120 lbs, of which surgery will likely help me lose 60 to 80 lbs. The other 60 to 40 will be up to me - through diet and exercise and a lot of self love and determination. Will I like it? probably not. But will it be worth it? I truly believe it will be, not only because of how much better i'll feel about myself, but because I DESERVE to look and feel my very best. I OWE it to myself. And as much as there will be times when I want to sink into old, bad habits of finding comfort in food, I will remind myself of the gift I have given myself by taking this first step with surgery. so yeah, I'd love to hear where you are with your journey so far. What are some of your wins? What are you doing to reward yourself? So excited to meet you all!

My weight history was not a requirement but my surgeon said to get it anyway just in case. When I went in 2015, my 8 year history went back as such: 2009 (18): 151lbs 2010 (19): 193lbs 2011 (20): 216lbs 2012 (21): 239lbs 2013 (22): 254lbs 2014 (23): 278lbs 2015 (24): 270lbs 2016 (25): 260lbs I rapidly gained weight over the years. My surgeon wanted to know my weight history for his own records. I have been overweight my entire life.

I am writing this to help those whom have United Health Care. Here are the following things to know and tips: Before reading these tips, contact UHC for confirmation that Bariatric surgery is covered under your plan. Confirm the requirements. Confirm that your surgeon and his associated hospital is In-Network (if they are not, it will be like paying for the surgery without insurance). Make sure you have an understanding of what the insurance wants to see or have done. 1) You are eligible if you have a 40 BMI or Higher / Greater than 35 BMI with Co-Morbidity. 2) Once you find your surgeon, you will have to do 6 months worth of testing, dieting and education. 3) You will have to make 6 visits (once a month). This does not include your consultation. 4) One of your visits will be with a Psychological Evaluation. This will determine your surgeons view and the insurance company's view of your case. They take a look at your mental and emotional health. They ask about your family and your support systems. They may ask you how you feel about yourself. Stay away from the negative views you may have of your body. Understand that they have seen hundreds of people like you and may have some prejudice in regards to whether you will succeed or not. Remind them that you are a person, not a statistic and bring some human to your discussion. 5) Your surgeon may require you to keep an eating and exercise journal. I use MyFitnessPal and I have a FitBit. 6) You will be asked to do an EKG to see how strong your heart is. 7) You may be asked to do a sleep study. Depending on your surgeon, it can be a requirement. In my case, the insurance company denied it. They did not deem it as a necessity. 8) You will have to do an Ultrasound which is to see if you have any issues with your liver (fatty liver disease) or other organs. 9) The next thing is an endoscopy. This requires you to head to an outpatient clinic, be sedated and have a tube stuck down your throat. (Update: You will need to have lab work done no more than 1 month prior). I learned that I had an hiatal hernia (where part of the stomach enters the diaphragm). This can cause you heart burn. Be aware of H. Pylori. This is a bacteria that can cause ulcers and heart burn as well. It takes a lot of antibiotics to cure. Be mindful that your throats will be sore and some sharp pains may occur as they most likely scrapped some samples from your digestive tract. 10) In between these visits, you will see an dietitian and nutritionist for further help. They will slowly walk you through changing your eating habits. Be honest with them. It is very important in the long run. Also try to keep your weight lost in small amounts. If you lose too much in a short period of time, the surgeon and insurance company will feel like you can lose the remaining weight alone. 11) Your last visit will consist of an overview. The surgeon will check your weight and may discuss further with you about your feelings towards the surgery. Hopefully you are approved by the surgeon. My surgeon was great during the process. I met with him more times than anyone else. He literally kept giving my information and sites to read to understand this tool. 12) They will then submit your information to the insurance company. Now it can take up to 2 - 6 weeks for approval. I was approved in one week. My fellow UHC Members, I hope this assist you in your endeavors. 6 months will fly by so quickly you won't even realize it. Remember education is the key to success. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi, this is my fist time posting. I guess at this point I am ready to begin posting as I finally have a surgery date scheduled for 4/22/15. I am eager and nervous... Eager because I am excited for a new chapter of my life to begin but nervous as I am not in fear of this procedure but that I have two toddlers who love mommy's hugs and cuddle time! I've contemplated holding off until their a little older, but, I feel if I do, I will regardless be prolonging the inevitable and start to a healthier lifestyle! I'm 5'2" @ 225 (good days) 232 others... I've lost about 10 lbs while attending the program before being cleared for surgery. I could absolutely use any help or feedback with anyone who has gone through a similar situation as mine having kids...

Did it really go away????? <hugging self and rocking back and forth-finally feeling a little hope> When did all of your reactions begin? About 24 hours after the suspect medication? Did it take about a week to 10 days? I'm on day 6 (began Thursday the 2nd but really blew up on the 3rd) and while I have just a tiny improvement, it's nowhere near me being back to normal. I dumped every med except for the 3 I was on before the surgery (and had been on for years) and am taking the steroids and antihistimines. I can't look in the mirror without crying...and please understand. I'm 40 with three kids...I'm over the vanity thing. But the way I look now is beyond description and leaving the house isn't even an option. I work 3rd shift by myself and when my relief comes in the morning, they avoid looking at me. THAT'S how bad it is. Please tell me yours was about the same! I have to believe this is going away. I'm not prone to depression but this has knocked me on my a** in more ways than one. The itching makes me insane. Thank you again for your responses...I just logged on and hoped to hear from someone that might have had something similar but never expected something like this. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you for the board and for all of you. :redface:

Thank you so much for answering I was so freaking out since I already had and echo done none doctor had ordered a stress test. Once I get the okay from cardio doctor its waiting for the insurance approval..... Ahhhh the joy of waiting. Hello Everyone - I have a question have any of you done a treadmill stress test? And what it involves? I have to past this test and get it signed off from my cardio doctor before my dr will summit for approval from my insurance. Going this Wednesday..... I am already started on 1700 calorie diet with a Protein shake for one of my meals. I have cut out all caffiene for about two months do you think that will be a plus.... thanks for taking the time to answer..... I had to do a treadmill test also. I went in and they did a sonogram of my heart first. It took about 30 mins. Then I went in for the treadmill test. They did a resting EKG and took my blood pressure. Then I got on the treadmill and was still hooked up. It started slow and got faster and inclined. I had to get my heart rate up to a certain number but I can't remember. Once it was there she stopped it. It only took maybe 10-15 mins, and was a lot easier than I thought.

I'm three months out. I had one of the rougher recoveries. I've had kidney stones from struggles to stay hydrated. I've cried over food more times in the past 10 weeks than I've cried in my life. I've been hormonal as hell. Dumping is boarder line torture. But you know what, I wouldn't trade this for anything. Feeling normal comes back with time. I don't have to shop in plus sizes any more. I'm completely off all my heartburn meds. I can actually sleep through the night now. I ran my fastest mile ever my first day back at the gym. People don't treat me different because of my weight anymore. I feel more confident. I have a new healthy relationship with food. Being on an airplane doesn't hurt anymore or feel awkward. Working out is actually fun now. I can take a bath that's more Water instead of fat filling the tub. I enjoy having people take my picture now. It's a whole new world but I love it. Don't get me wrong, it's very very hard. But as tough as it's been i would do it again in a heartbeat cuz I'm finally enjoying the life I deserve to have. I also realized we have similar starting stats. I'm 5'6, was 257 at my highest recorded weight. I probably weighed more tho honestly. I got down to 235 on my surgery day. And now I'm 189 10 weeks post op.

I had my LapBand removed and revised to VSG on 10/18/16. For me, the band caused much more trouble than I ever expected. I lost about 60 pounds and kept it off for three years. When the LapBand was working and I didn't have to fight with fills and un-fills, life was good. When things went bad, they went really bad. At the time of revision, they found that my band had slipped and I had prolapsed stomach. Nothing I did, just a failure of the device. I did all my research before being banded and I did all the routine care that my program required, but I still had a band that was a failure. My surgeon is doing very few bands today. And...the rate of weight loss is spectacular versus my band. I'm down 17 lbs. since pre op. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Good morning First fillers. Always remember that after a fill to do your liquids and soft foods for a couple of days. For some reason the band takes time to adjust. I have had 6 fills, different amounts 1.5,1.0, &.5. total of 6.5 cc in a 10 cc. Every thing goes down fine wth the liquids. For me the change always comes on day 6,7, or 8. The restriction is there, it could be from jsut getting back to regular foods that after the liquids yu have atendency to forget how to eat and chew after only a 4 day hiatus. I have sen somepeople that it took two weeks for the restriction to set in. Everyone is different. Main thing give it time, dont push those tough foods, Restriction is good, I lose my most lbs in the two weeks right after a new fill. As long as I and my tummy is losing fat the inside silicone band will loosen each time. So relax and follow the rules. This is journey learn the right way. They may do the barium and the FLouro scope on your first fill to make sure the restriction is there and to hit the port on the first stick. Sorta neat to watch. Good luck remember to take notes in your journal or food log on how things went and how you feel.:eek:

Good luck everybody , I feel alot better listening to all of the encouragement! !! We got this....my name is neenee and I am being sleeved on 10/16/2012. Thanks... And keep up the good work, I'm glad everything went well...on your way to a better you.

I know how you feel, 10 years ago I chickened out, asking myself the same things you're asking yourself. Boy what a difference a decade makes, I have diabetes, sleep apnea, and arthritis now. It's not going to better without help. Calm down and think about all things your weight is costing and what the future holds if keep going on the same way you are now. STEP out on faith, GOD's got your back. You'll do great Sent from my iPad using RNYTalk

Lol I said the same thing about throwing up. 7*10*12

I've actually found compliance over the first 7.5 months post-op to be quite easy. I don't really understand the thought process for people who are non-compliant right out of the gate. I'm not judging, I really just lack an ability to understand where they are in their life/thought process that allows them to do that. That being said, I worry a ton about maintenance. Being non-compliant there i can TOTALLY get my head around. I think everyone of us who had this surgery had dieted over and over and over. We probably all had some level success, but we pretty much all failed at maintenance - that's why we are here. So, to me, it's the old demons. I always failed in the past, why will this be any different? I am almost almost 30 lbs below my original goal weight and if I'm honest with myself, part of why is that I am so worried about transitioning into maintenance (and partly because I can, so hey, why not). As a last thought, I also wonder if you ever get to a point that you feel "safe". If you maintain for 5 years, will you start to believe you will not regain? 7 years? 10 years?

I have my surgery on 12-19 too!! Good luck to you! Sent from my SM-N920P using the BariatricPal App