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Hi VST, I wanted to post for you my three months results post vsg with Dr. Ramos Kelly. This last month showed a 9 lb loss and this month is the same with a 9 lb loss, however this month showed a big turn out in inches. (You can view inches lost for this month now, just scroll down) So my body is changing its shape finally and many are seeing the difference including me. I am being more lenient with my diet, but I try to always stick with my water and protein first. I have yet to drink any soda or type of carbonated beverage and would now consider my self a nonsmoker as I have not smoked since I started my pre-op diet back in late April. Yippee!! Bonus, I am still taking my vitamins everyday which I thought would be difficult as I have never been on the pill popping thing, but I'm still trucking along with it. I will get some blood work done next month so I can compare it to my results before surgery. I will share them with you if you when I get them. I still use vertical sleeve talk.com to ask any questions I have and for support as well as a way for me to share my results with others. I also am still using the weighttracker.info to keep all my personal number data. This is a great site because they give so many ways to keep track of weight, inches, and so much more; plus I love to use the graphs on days I feel down. I try not to ever over do the scale. Some weeks there is a great loss and others there just isn't. Then it starts up again so I try to only weigh once a week on my Tuesdays so that I can add my weight to my charts. You will be able to see below in results, but I have only lost 3 lbs. in two weeks, but currently this week I have already lost 3 lbs. too. It's so weird, but I feel like I am getting a hold of the slows and the quicks on the scale and stick to what I am suppose to do and believe that all things will turn out fine. So no huge changes, but the ship is moving along just fine and from where I was to where I am now it has been amazing. Now to the results. Start Weight: 273 Pre-op: --- 6 lbs. lost Surgery Weight: 267 1 month: 247 -- bmi 39.0 -- 20 lbs lost 2 month: 238 -- bmi 37.3 -- 9 lbs lost 3 month: 229 -- bmi 35.9 --- 9 lbs lost Lost since surgery: -38 Lost Total: -44 lbs. Weekly Break Down, lbs. lost pre-op week: 6 lbs week 1 -- 8 lbs. 2 --5 3 --3 4 --2 5 --2 6 --3 7 --3 8 --1 9 --2 10 --6 11 --0 12 --2 13 --1 Start Jean size: 24/22 Current Jean size: 20 loose/18/16 Start Shirt size: 3x/2x Current Shirt size: 2x/ 1x Inches: Neck Start: 16 Last: 15 Recent: 14.5 Loss: -.5 Total Loss: -1.5 Upper Arm Start: 15 Last: 14 Recent: 14 Loss: 0 Total Loss: -1 Forearm Start: 11.5 Last: 11 Recent: 10.5 Loss: -.5 Total Loss: -1 Waist Start: 49 Last: 43 Recent: 40.5 Loss: -2.5 Total Loss: -8.5 Abdomen (belly button) Start: 55 Last: 51 Recent: 47.5 Loss: -3.5 Total Loss: -7.5 Hips Start: 55 Last: 51 Recent: 49 Loss: -2 Total Loss: -6 Bust Start: 54 Last: 50 Recent: 48 Loss: -2 Total Loss: -6 Chest Start: 44 Last: 40 Recent: 38.5 Loss: -1.5 Total Loss: -5.5 Thigh Start: 30.5 Last: 28 Recent: 27 Loss: -1 Total Loss: -3.5 Calf Start: 17.5 Last: 17 Recent: 16 Loss: -1 Total Loss: -1.5 1st month loss: -19.5 in 2nd month loss: -9 in 3rd month loss: -14.5 in Total Lost: -43 inches

I am dealing with this struggle myself. The surgery itself is no a cure all. I knew this going in. I battle to curb grazing and making poor food choices. I wasn't exercising, and wasn't losing. Currently I am going back to basics. Started with the dreaded protein shakes for breakfast and lunch. Started walking on the treadmill daily. Finally the stall has broken. Going on vaccation with my family two weeks ago was a eye opener. Wow the amount of food was overwhelming! I certainly realize why the whole crew is obese. I am going to break this cycle starting with myself and my kids. I know I eat when I am stressed. Food is such a compulsion for me. Well after this rant, what I really want to say, is WE GOT THIS. I know you can do it and I can do this. If you need support you got it. Thanks for sharing it's great to know I am not alone, in what I am feeling. surgery1 2-19-11 HW 362 SW 344 CW 278 85 lbs down! 100 to go!

You really need to ask your doctor about this. I was told to absolutely not lift anything over 10 lbs for at least 2 weeks, or until I get the ok from my doc. Best of luck!

BJ, Glad you are feeling a little better! I hate being sick, I'm such a terrible patient! Just got back from my fill. The DR. put in 1.5cc & it took all of 10 minutes with the flouro. It was painless. Says everything is where it should be but that I would probably not notice much difference until the second fill. Didn't schedule another fill appt. just said when I stop losing, to call for appt. I hope this means that I will pick back up on the weight loss since it has been SLOW. Went to dinner with my DH this weekend & he actually finished his meal before I did. Usually, I finish first & wait on him. I am practicing chewing slowly. Now if I can get a regular exercise routine down? Let me know how its going for you. When do you get a fill?

Hey March Bandsters! Wanted to check in & see how everyones progress has been. My surgery was March 12, 2007 and I feel much better than I did a month ago. I am trying to folow the food rules. Yes, I need to drink more Water and get some walking in. I lost 10 pounds the week after surgery. Over the past month though I have only lost 2 pounds. It seems that my body is holding onto the weight for some reason. this is frustrating!!! It is still a month before I get my first fill so I am trying to go it alone. My first fill is under flouro. I hope to get good restriction. How is everyone else doing?

Question 1- I struggled. There was a time right at the beginning of the pandemic (1st surgery was Dec 2019) where all I could drink besides hot tea was grape powderade zero (hated artificial grape pre-op) and everywhere was out. I distinctly remember crying in my car, like full on grief crying. I had buyers remorse for several weeks after that wondering if I’d ever be normal again. Be prepared with emotional/ therapeutic support if you’re already battling disordered eating. Question 2- A dry cough is indeed a symptom of gerd. For me, it’s now hiccups. If you’ve ever heard those honking plastic chickens just know that’s what I sound like. I did end up having a revision to RNY and hiatal hernia repair. They don’t remove your stomach, it’s still in there, they just bypass most of it and attach it in a y shape to another part of the intestines while keeping a small portion attached. The only reason I have hiccups again is because I have another hiatal hernia that needs repaired. Would I do it all over again knowing the journey I’ve been on? Absolutely. Would I also be more prepared mentally? Also, absolutely.

You sound like your having an easy time of it! I'm jealous. But happy for you. I'm a week out and down 10 lbs.

I wonder if any one is experiencing thin hair?. I was told before surgery that hair lost is one of the side effects. My hair is thinning and this is not funny. Has any one tried anything that has helped? I am great full with my weight lost at this point, hopefully still to loose more a little stalling but that's okay. Initial weight 200 lb, surgery date 10/10/16 current weight 157 so far. Sent from my SM-G920T using the BariatricPal App

Wow small world I was born and raised in Lake Stevens. I'll be in Arlington on April 29th for a benefit poker run for my BIL who had a stroke. We'll all meet at Wellers at 10 that morning. See my post http://www.lapbandtalk.com/banded-bikers-ii-t29021p3.html?highlight=bikers+II Dr. Huacuz has rooms set up in the hospital for his patients to stay. One room for patient and one room for companions if needed. But I have planned to go to Revolution Ave on the 21. His driver Victor has offered to escort me to do some shopping. So I don't think we'll pass each other unless in in the airport. I'm flying Delta. But I would love to get together with others when I'm in the Everett area.

I made a mistake by coming back to work tonight. I feel terrible. I never thought about having to bend over if I drop something or the weight restriction, not being able to lift over 10 pounds. I feel like an invalid....and I am in pain. As I sit here, drinking ice water and eating watery grits while everyone around me is eating juicy cheeseburgers and fries I wonder,,,,,if one would have told me how intensely hard that it would be to fight the urge to eat, and that it would take every ounce of willpower that you ever could imagine to stay on this liquid diet,,,,would I have still agreed to this? I just keep thinking what have I done. I could have just been fat and happy....This is a living hell...not to mention the pain when you have to burp feels like being punched in the sternum with a baseball bat.....God give me the strength to do this.....this is so much harder than I thought it would be.

I get my Band on 10/31/06. I have to admit,,, I'm getting nervous. I've got all these people telling me "Shirley don't do it! Youv'e already lost a lot of weight!" Like I don't no this wright??? Anyway they are telling me about how many people they no that have had this done, and they are forever sick. "My guess is By-Pass Surgery" They just don't no the difference. I'm told I wil never eat again. I no I plan too! I no it won't be much, but,, I still plan to eat someday. If some one out there wants to get back to me, and give me some pointers or tips. I would really appreciate it. Because I have all ready bought my Protien Drinks, I've watched a tape on the Procedure, I'm going for my Pre-Op visit Wednesday,Whew, I'm trying to get all my ducks in a row as they say. But,,, somehow my head is getting spun around So please get back. I'm in Michigan, my highest weight was 356, now 239 that's on 1200 calorie diet it works!!! My Surgeon is Jeffrey Genaw. Out of Henry Ford Hospital.

Thanks. The 55lbs tho is since I started the process in March '08. It's 30lbs since surgery. I had to lose 10% before surgery. It amazes me that I'm 55lbs less than I was over a year ago. I saw myself in the mirror the other day, actually SAW myself, and was shocked! And kinda proud of myself. I'm not huge anymore. Yes, I still have a long way to go and I'm still big, but I'm not HUGE and I can function better and my clothes, well the ones that aren't too big, look better. I'm not having to continuously adjust my clothing. It's been an interesting journey so far! Enjoy the ride as much as you can!

My face within 4 days of surgery and now 19 days post-op everyone is commenting on the drastic change in my face and abdominal area. I can tell because size 42 pants which were snug on me 3 weeks ago fall off of me without a belt to hold them up. I put on a pair of size 36 jeans 4 days ago...albeit they were a TAD tight in the waist.

I don't have anyone to talk my frustrations over, so I just thought I'd type. I know there isn't anything anyone can do, but maybe it will help me just to rant. I had my Lapband surgery on March 4th. At the end of 6 weeks when I went back for my checkup and for my first fill, I had lost 22 pounds (of which I'm proud). In the doctor's office, after 2 needles (a shorter one and then a longer one) and 10 minutes of trying (and much sticking), he didn't have any success filling the band. He scheduled me to come back last Thursday (4/17) to his other office and we would do the procedure with the help of sonogram. On Thursday, after 30 minutes, 4 needles and 9 more puncture spots on my already sore stomach from three days prior, he was still unsuccessful. I am now scheduled to go to the hospital tomorrow to attempt it again with the fluoroscope. "They" say that the third time is the charm. Let's hope so. On top of all of this worry and frustration, I get a telephone call from the doctor's office today and was informed that the insurance "mispaid". Previously, the doctor's office contacted the insurance company (BCBS)because BCBS had paid more for the procedure than normal. The insurance clerk says she was told by BCBS that the payment was correct. So, she then proceded to forward me a refund check for what I had overpaid. Now after 6 weeks have gone by, BCBS now says they paid too much and want their $423 back. I called BCBS myself today and they told me that when the insurance clerk called, they noted on my record that they told her they were going to reprocess the claim to see if it was paid correctly. Now, I'm between the insurance company telling me one thing and the doctor's office telling me another thing, but the bottom line is the doctor's office wants $423 immediately and I don't have $4.23, must less $423. I am so begining to regret ever going through this. The doctor hasn't been able to fill me, and the doctor's assistant says if I don't pay the money back immediately, then they won't be servicing me anymore and could take legal actions. I think there is a song out there "Had a bad day..." Well, I've had a bad week and am ready to scream. Again, I'm sure nobody really cares because this isn't anybody's elses problem, but it does help just to "air my frustrations." Certainly doesn't solve anything, but -- well.

hello folks! my husband and i will be traveling to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia soon to meet the baby girl we are adopting. my doctor and i are considering unfilling my band for the trip for a couple of reasons...1.) the high possibility of getting sick and throwing up, which could cause a slip. 2.) medical professionals there have no idea what to do with the band, so if i were to having problems, i'd be out of luck with getting help. has anyone else done this while traveling? does the hunger come of fast? i have 6 cc in a 10 cc band and have lost just over 80 lbs. i'm scared of gaining weight, but near as scared as what could happen in Ethiopia with my band if i got sick. any advice is greatly appreciated!

hello lynn,i was banded in melbourne july 19 like you i am on 3 site's i also love being on this site, i love your state my son live's in embleton so have been over there a few time's,i'm sure you'll have no regret's about your decision to be lapbanded i am one of the slower one's it has taken me all that time to lose 10 kilo's but it's the best i have done for many years, jenny

i have this problem very badly, and my band is by no means to tight,, i drank, 2 iced teas at a party this week end, before the grill was ready then proceded to eat potato salad 1 1/2 hot dogs, beans, and baked ziti, and it all wnet down with no problems,, , yettt, in the am i cant even swallow anything but boiling hot broth, ( dont drink coffe) by noon, about 1/2 the time i can ordere a hot brothy soup and it clears me out and i can eat,, its the middel of the summer, theres not much hot soup around, so i end up trhowing up, the food i eat with mucus, about 10 oz of food and 4-5 ozs of mucus then i can get food down, easily,, some days no matter how much i through up it will not clear.. and i end up wasteing my entier meal. i am always using a spit cup,, to claify, i am not to tight, i chew my food well enough, ( ie soup) i have taken claite d but the pills have a jello like coating that makes them swell and it blocked my up for 2 days, if i had know about my post nasel drip was a problem i would have just opted for the bypass and hopefully had less problems, my wife had her band done, and shes lost like 90 lbs, i lost about 50 on my own to prove i could do the band, but since december i have lost like 5 lbs, my doctor thinks i am cheating the band and discounts my mucus problem and calls me an emigma. i end up eating things that will go through, like soups, shakes, slushies, , i have completely cut out fast food like mc donalds, and bk, now im at wawa, every day looking for soups,, ,, i hate this band?!?!?!?

Ha Ha no no. LOL. I wish! it is an avatar I found on the board here. It is a character from one of the Final Fantasy games, 10 I think. I am a huge gamer always have been and Final Fantasy is one of my favorite game series. I did post a partly skinny pic of me in the "what is your dream skinny clothes" in my wedding dress. That is my dream skinny outfit. I told my husband when I get to that weight, I am going to wear the dress around the house for a couple of days. LOL.

I'm four days post op, sleeved on 4/14 I've tried to keep a positive attitude throughout, but today it's been difficult to do so. I'm an over-prepper. I've read hundreds of forum threads and watched dozens of youtube videos. I came into this knowing exactly what to expect, that there were a lot of different possible things that could happen and pains I might feel, but that my journey would be my own. I knew about Water nausea, gas pains, walking, throwing up, lightheadedness, Protein, the works, What I wasn't prepared for was the abdominal pain. The 'big stitch'. This is the pain in my lower abdomen, right side, from the biggest incision, where the stomach is pulled through. There's a figure 8 stitch underneath the surface keeping my tissue and muscles together so I won't get a hernia in this spot. And it's some of the worst pain I've ever felt. You don't really realize how much you use your core/abdominal muscles until you suddenly can't. Lifting my right leg is nearly impossible because of the pain. So is pulling with my right arm. In the hospital, the techs had to lift my right leg for me when I got in and out of bed. Everything has to be done with my left side.. pulling myself into bed, off the toilet, or getting out of a vehicle. My legs dangled off the edge of the seat in my roommate's truck when I tried getting out on day 2, and it was the most excruciating 30 seconds or so of my life until he came and helped lower me down to the ground. I was nauseous from it and nearly threw up. Because of that, I haven't dared leave the house in a vehicle in fear of repeating it. I can't put on socks or pants by myself. I feel like an invalid. I am discouraged this morning. I've been trying to take myself off the tramadol so I can be somewhat coherent. I don't like feeling drugged up, because it makes me lethargic and I spend the day dozing in and out of sleep. I want to be walking and active (and have been. I walk around the house several times a day and have gone on two long walks around the neighborhood). I want to start healing. But the abdominal pain is nearly constant, shooting to a 10 on the pain scale when I use those muscles. So, I took a dose of meds this morning. I'm really surprised this pain hasn't been really talked about in this forum and others. Is it because it's rare to have? Does it resolve quickly for most people? I'm feeling pretty alone in this. My gas pain has been so minimal, and drinking water has been so easy, I feel like if i didn't have this stitch pain, I'd have a very easy ride right now. But this has been almost all I can focus on due to the intensity. I could use some support.. words of encouragement.. advice.. anything. I know this will be worth it in the end. I'm not falling into the trap of buyer's remorse. But this is still very difficult to handle physically and mentally here in the moment.

My pre op was Friday with the surgeon and all was well my pre op diet starts the 4th of June. My dr. Makes everyone do 10 days on a liquid diet. Sent from my SM-G900P using the BariatricPal App

Hi all! I just had my Gastric Bypass on 4/10/18. I was out of the hospital by 4/11 and have been having trouble getting a full night's sleep. At this point I don't even nap during the day, and I'm still up half the night. Has this happened to anyone else? Any tips on how to get through this? Hoping it doesn't last much longer!!! Thanks, SaRose

Hi everyone!! I am very new to this, I just created my account this morning. Im not sure if this is the correct place to be posting this so if its not please let me know. Let me first start off by congratulating everyone on your weight loss!!! ( green with envy over here) I am 39 years old, 5ft. 6 and 216 pounds. I am wanting to lose approx. 80 pounds. I started researching WLS options about 2 months ago. I am still trying to decide between the plication and the sleeve. My story is no different than so many people I see in the different forums. I have tried just about every diet out there even the lovely cabbage Soup diet (gag). My weight has been up and down for the last 10 years. Im so tired of the yoyo and the emotional scars that come with it. Ok so enough of the pity party. What I would like to know is this: What made you decide on plication verses the sleeve? Or any other one How did you decide on what doctor to go to? Have you been happy with your choice? What about emotional eating? Stress eating? If there is a problem after surgery where do you go? ( assuming it was done abroad and you live in the states) Thank you in advance for any insight you may have.

My surgeon also does his as outpatient. I'm scheduled for October 19.

It is possible that i am in a bander hell! Its also possible that life is hard right now. Of course i am making the best of this and i WILL NOT GIVE UP!!!! ok so here is my problem and just so everyone knows i am working through it! I will win this fight i really will! Ok so last month i couldn't eat at all and that is hard no matter what so they took out .4cc's not to much and i did just fine. This time i went back and they put in .5cc's so yeah i was kinda worried. But i thought they know what they are doing right? Ok so the first day i could eat i tried a hamburger patter on my lunch break with my boss and i throw up everything NOT fun. so today i go black eyed peas and it seem to go down but im only eating about 10% or less and I feel tired real fast and then i feel hungry and its actually hunger not head hunger so ill go back and eat a little more. I went to my regular dr today because i got a spider bite and well that's not fun either but in the past week i have lost a good 8lbs. AWESOME for me because i thought with all the eating that's really good well now that i think about it that's not really so good 8lbs since Monday..... Idk maybe it in my head i am having issues and i honestly don't know what to do i don't want any thing taken out of my band so should i be worried or should i just go with it?? can someone help me?