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I'm 41 married and father of 2 boys .. used to be athletic but stopped after graduated from Univ. and started career I started gaining weight each month .. bounced through diet sometimes but always maintained way up on scale .. studied for a year or more what to do and decided it's surgery my solution .. At first I decided wd my wife and a famous doctor here in Cairo the gastric bypass .. we made the pre op analysis and checkups All was clear and set the op last year's May 7th.. I'm from Alexandria it's 220 km far from Cairo so I drove my car early dawn reached hospital, parked front of entrance and never was able to open door and jump inside hospital .. I freezed!! Something told me Go back don't do it don know why?? So I turned to my wife who kept encouraging me all the way and to her eyes told her straight I'll not do this bypass surgery!! She started to cry I dropped inside hospital front desk to tell them I'm not doing it and asked them to inform Dr. as soon as they can. I returned back took my time to study All and gave myself one year to sort it out if not I'll return doing bypass again!! 3 months back I was in a mall in Cairo met a fellow that I don't know who stopped me and told me you are 180 kgs!!! He is normal size, not obese so he struck me telling me he was like me one year back!! Told me about Plication and how it turned his life way better and how he committed himself to advise everyone who was like him to do it. I got his Surgeon details in another city 180 km from us went there and met him and liked it All. Only problem it's away from my hometown not very comfortable I started to search in my hometown and found a v good surgeon a brother of one of my best colleagues in Faculty who made it frequently and got v good results and decided he's the one! Today I completed one month post op .. feeling gr8 .. eating good .. lost 20 KG (44 pounds) 10 days pre op + 1 month post op .. feeling more normal now .. small portions fill it in wd satisfaction and can stay long without craving if ever as before!! No craving no bad mood without eating nor drinking problem is it goes to Water as well so water intake at first dropped dramatically now begin to increase it so it's vital and so imp. Best of luck in yours did the right choice and you'll begin a new you a much better self confident You .. post op only 2 days of disorder and some mild to normal pain then way better ev day .. best luck and best wishes

The doctor removed mine and did a local around the site and then sent some down the tube to numb the area and the diaphragm . I've heard without it that it produces quite the scream So far down 10 (total 20 with pre diet). It's my choice to go back - I own the company . Will probably start off 4 hours a day and build up during the week. Only seem to have gas issues in the morning - oh and when I drink too fast. I keep asking my husband I let me smell his food he thinks I'm nuts but I am looking forward to "tasting" omething other than chocolate, vanilla or chicken broth !

Congrats jersey girl on the Irish twins I had my baby in September he was 7.13 and measured 20.5 inches. He is 4 months old now and is doing perfect. As for me I am 10 lbs below my pre pregnancy weight I thought I was at goal then but I'm happy with the size im now. [115488attachment=50798:ImageUploadedByBariatricPal1420986547.609765.jpg] Here's a picture of me and my little guy on Christmas

I was the opposite...I weighed everyday because I felt it gave me more control. I have my weight written down everyday for most of my adult life but the times I gained were the times I stopped weighing myself everyday. Since surgery I have written my weight down every single day so I can see exactly when I had stalls, when I went up or down, and around the times that I added or removed something from diet or exercise how it affected my weight. There are days, like yesterday, when I get on the scale and I want to throw it through a wall, however because I knew immediately I had gained weight I was super careful yesterday and this morning I was right back to normal. When I weigh everyday, I can fix a problem immediately, whereas when I don't, if something I have been doing is causing a gain I may not realize until I have to lose 5 or 10 pounds instead of 1 or 2. I'm a pretty controlling person so I would go crazy if I wasn't 100% sure what I weighed every single morning. I took my scale with me on vacation. Amusingly, I weigh myself on 2 scales everyday because I got the Aria on that syncs to fitbit awhile ago, but I wasn't wiling to give up my original scale. So yes, I weigh myself on two scales every morning. Obsessive, a little, but skinny, so worth it.

Sorry so long. My boyfriend is a hoarder. We’ve been a couple for over 8 years. I used to live with him and my grown daughter in a 2-bedroom 2-bath apartment. The hoarding was getting out of control. It was the only thing we fought about. Then we got bedbugs in February 2012. For about a month I tried to get him to clean up. He would not throw anything away, bag it up and store it, or clean it. I threatened to move out and he still didn’t do anything. So I found another apartment for my daughter and me. I started packing, which took up a lot of time because of working full-time. We moved 3-24-12. Then I was unpacking and arranging, sometimes until 10 pm to midnight. My boyfriend found a place for his car and stuff, but not a place to live. So I worry about him because he is 73 and homeless. I cannot get him to get a place to live. He is a janitor and is sleeping on a couch in a doctor’s office he cleans. He baths at my house. I wash his clothes. I provide breakfast. He finds his own lunch and dinner. Yesterday I contacted his family and am waiting to hear from them. He is holding me emotionally hostage because of this. I quit exercising. I was so tired. I was so swamped I could not eat properly and ate a lot of carbs. On-sale Easter candy and I became reacquainted. I still managed to get my protein through protein drinks, but it was hard to remember liquids. I was able to keep up with supplements because I can now take pills, so I just added them to my morning and evening medications. I only had one day to rest during this entire time. Yesterday was the first time I was able to breathe. Today I am taking stock of what has been happening with my health. This was my first time of being tested by stress since being sleeved 12-19-11. I realize I have been using comfort foods to help me get through everything. I weighed 199 on 3-9-12. Today I weigh 191. I’ve only lost 8 pounds since 3-9-12, almost 7 weeks. Ordinarily I would have lost 14-16 pounds in that time. I have been an emotional and physical mess. This whole situation is completely insane to me. I’m not sleeping well. I’ve been drinking coffee and Red bull to keep up my energy. I started back exercising yesterday. I’ve learned that I can slide back into my old habits despite being sleeved. I’m trying to get back to the basics to get back on track. That means good carbs, counting calories, exercising, and getting in all my protein and liquids. If anyone has any input I would appreciate it.

Mine is going to be Nov 18! I have been trying to eat slower as well, constrict portion size, sip water every 5-10 minutes. Trust me these are all not easy to do but it'll help to get into the routine for after surgery. I start my liquid diet Nov 1 so that'll help with getting in the zone right before surgery

Im in the exact same boat! My surgery is on the 4th and i'm not on day 5 of the liquid diet....i have literally had to talk myself out of eating every night....i'm 7.5 lbs down since starting the liquid diet though so that helps to motivate me. I actually started my liquid diet on December 7th, because I and my patient navigator were hopeful that my insurance would approve before end of the year, and there was a chance that my surgery would be either the week of Christmas or the week after. As it turns out, it ended up being scheduled for the 28th. I have been on liquids for an extra week, which has not been easy at all! The first few days were awful, with headaches, and wanting food. It has become easier, but I still have my moments. I am down 19 pounds from my start weight. My surgeon said last Wednesday, that my extra week will be beneficial to him, making it even easier to get to the stomach, and he told me he was proud of my determination, and said I have a good head start on my weight loss. Best of luck to you on your weight loss journey, and prayers for you on the 4th! My nerves have been overbearing the past few nights, worrying about my surgery on Monday. I hope everyone who has commented on my thread, will stay in touch, and let me know how your surgeries went!

Welcome! I know it's scary and yes it's a huge decision. It sounds like you have done a lot of work on yourself mentally and I think that's a major key to sucsess in this process. You are right, it's your decision who to tell and not tell about your surgery. I told one person, my mother, and that's it. If anyone asks how I am loosing the weight I just tell them I have committed to a high Protein, low carb lifestyle. When you come home after surgery you will be sore and on different stages of dietary restrictions....I don't see how you can keep that from your teenagers. I think they will notice, so in my opinion it might be a good idea to have a talk with them. You might be surprised at how happy they will be that you decided to become a fit, active and healthy mom. This was the best decision, my only regret is not having it done about 10 years ago. Keep coming to this forum, ask a lot of questions. You will do great!

Hi, I'm in Marion and I'm scheduled for the 19 of November. Not sure if I'm doing this reply the right way. Sorry if I'm repeating myself and you've already read this.

How are all my 9/19 sleevesters doing? I feel surprisingly wonderful. No pain really, more of a soreness as if I took a 8 hour core training class. The dilaudid is making me itchy so I got Benadryl to help. And I've been walking the corridors! So happy I'm in the other side and I can't wait to start this new phase. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

GNC has buy one get one 50% off. Kohls is having a sale on fitbits. Go through ebates and earn $10 for signing up plus cash back. For smart phone users I recommend the Ibotta saving app. and get cash back on shopping at your favorite stores. I use several savings apps, including Target cartwheel, but this one give me the most cashback. Old Navy is having 50% off. Great time to stock up on workout clothes!

Hi, my surgery is on 9/19, I just started my pre-op diet 5 Protein shakes a day. I'm excited and a little nervous, but I can't wait. I still need to take my measurements, but I can't wait to buy new clothes I put a hold on buying any new stuff and I can't wait until I can start buying new smaller ones.

September 19th date too! 3 days into the pre op diet. Protein shakes as snack and low carb meal with protein and veggies. Ironically my food funeral weekend did not go as planned, as I ended up with a gastrointestinal bug, so was on liquids right before starting pre op diet. Drinking Water and crystal light and Premier Protein. Hospital tour tonight for a pre op tour of what to expect. Have a great day 9/19's Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

hello, I was banded jan. 7, 2011..... My 1st visit to doctor was 1st wk in Oct. and I was approved within 10 days! I was so overwelmed and thought wow i must relly need it... lol ! As I spoke to staff at doctors office I realized time of approval is based on insurance. If you are wondering how long it would take for approval speak with insurance person at doctor's office. I waited until jan because I had to give notice at work to take leave. Good Luck!

GOOD cuz I need it. This pre-op diet SUCKS. If I was any good at dieting I would be a skinny B already, AND I know it's all mental. Like I'm having a hard time losing 10 lbs because I've been told I have to. I'm pouting today.

I'm to do a 2 wk diet of 2 Protein Shakes and a no carb dinner. chicken, fish, or veggies. They want me to lose 10 lbs before my surgery date and I'm already down 6 lbs. without really working too hard at it. HOWEVER, that has been my pattern for the last 8 yrs. Lose 5, gain 6, ~ lose 3, gain 5, ~ lose 8, gain 12..... Ya, do the math and it's been a steady gain for years of struggling. So, I'll lose the 10 as required and can't wait to NOT put back on it back on this time! I'm also stocking up on supplies for after my surgery. Tomatoe soup from costco, butternut squash & carrot soup, my Protein, will start buying yogurt in the next few weeks and mashed potatoes. I think I'm going to start bagging up things in 4 oz containers or ziplocks so I have it handy. My sister had bypass (lost 125lbs) and suggested re-fried Beans with cheese. I love Mexican food so that could be a real treat for me. I'm off to go shopping, julz~

Yogurt, mad cow cheese, runny porridge, hummus these are my main things I live on. Good luck Sent from my HTC 10 using the BariatricPal App

The best thing to do is go to your health insurance provider’s website and email them requesting a copy of your plan’s requirements for an approval for WLS. They should email you a copy within a couple days. But odds are good that if your doctor is telling you it’s required, it’s required. I’ve worked in medical for a LONG time. If your a specialty medical provider, you’re going to be incredibly familiar with the requirements for every health plan you accept at your office. I never trust a basic representative from a customer service line when it comes to healthcare. They usually have no idea when it comes to anything other than regular pcp and rx care. Anything with a specialization and they tend to not know. HW: 311 CW: 258 SW: We’ll see on May 10! First goal weight: 191 lbs Second goal weight: 159 lbs Goal weight: 142 lbs 5’6” 34 yo female in NC

May 10th for me. Down 8 lbs so far on this liquid diet. Tough the first 3 days but has been ok since then. HW: 321 CW: 278 GW: 180 Sleeve scheduled: 5/10/18

My surgery is May 10! So excited but nervous as well. 🙌🏻

Ok, so I'm back from another hospital stay (since Tuesday)...Monday, when I went to the Primary Care DR to get my sore throat checked out he told me it was Thrush...OK..fine. So, then he told me that I needed to get the Pneumonia Vaccine. I asked three times if that was a good idea while I was already TRYING to get better...and he assured me that there would be NO problem. Tuesday at 3 I was in the ER--again. I ended up having a reaction to the vaccine. High fever, chest pain, HUGE lymph nodes under my arm, and cellulitis in my shoulder where they put the injection. Added to that my lower right lung was still "not expanding". ..which can also cause fever, chest pain, tachychardia..etc. They gave me a bag of Vancomycin--not sure I even want to know WHY---but I had a reaction to that too--which caused my arm to be that much more inflamed and SORE!!! Cry cry cry--sob sob--cry! Another CT scan with contrast...more blood cultures and blood work every 6 hours. Sniff Sniff--cry. My husband has been SO incredible--I think I scared him to death. I'm pretty good about pain, pretty matter-of-fact and grit your teeth and do it kind of person--but I cried more in the last two days---my arm was SORER than I can even describe--having someone lightly brush my shoulder would send me into sobs. He was completely in shock of all the crying, and didn't know whether to hurt the people that hurt me or what to do--certainly couldn't hug me!!! :oD Yesterday after my 10 laps around the hospital I called my LapBand surgeon to let them know everything that has been going on. The nurse was SOOO sweet that I cried some more--and then she said words that were sweeter than honey..."if you want and feel hungry--start trying some "soft foods" like refried beans, mashed potatos, scrambled eggs" I was in complete shock...like a prisoner let out on parole early! :crying:) AWESOME!!! Today they finally let me come home...my little girl had made the SWEETEST "Welcome Home Mommy" party---she made EVERYTHING..chocolate cake, banner, carefully colored and snipped up confetti, streamers. SOOO sweet. My sister canceled her flight home on Wednesday and is able to stay until Sunday morning! It is SUCH sweet relief to know that my little girl is relaxed, getting supper, getting baths, and having so much fun thru all of this. I know that all of this is NOT TYPICAL lap band surgery stuff---I was up 20 minutes after recovery walking to the bathroom feeling fine. My LB is something that I think of from time to time but haven't really had a chance to let it sink in that I'm ON THE OTHER SIDE--(Not the other side that I thought I might end up on!) :target:) My scars are hardly showing--I can feel that something is different in my tummy and I am getting excited to think about taking off with diet and excercise!! It's starting to sink in now!!! I can't wait!!

I once lost my bikini bottoms on a water tube on the Illinois River (this was of course when i was about 19 and thin). As for any malfunctions while heavy... here is my story.... laugh if you will: I had just had my son about 2 months prior. I was only 21 and my best friend suggested I finally go and "celebrate" turning 21. So I thought, well heck, I will or I will regret not doing it. So off I went to find a good outfit to wear. I wanted to look "hot" even though I was married and not trying to find anyone. Needless to say I was heavy as I had gained 65 lbs pregnant. My friend suggested a girdle. I was hesitant but who would know right? So off I went to the downtown to whooop it up for the night with my friend. The first nightclub was good but we wanted to go up the street a bit to another more happening place. So I did a quick potty trip to the bathroom and off we went to walk about 2 blocks up to the next nightclub. This "strip" of clubs is very packed on the sidewalks with people walking to/from places. Soooo, anyways... I started noticing people looking at me and even turning their heads as I walked by. Mannnnn, I must be HOTTTT! I felt GREAT! I started to "strut" I think too. I felt like the queen of the hotties! I even turned and flirted a bit. This all came to screachinggggggg halt when my friend noticed that my after going potty at the last club I had left my cute little skirt tucked up in my big ol' granny girdle and was walking down the main downtown street with my big ol' booty (properly scrunching all my fat butt in with a little coming out the sides) for the whole town to see! I was MORTIFIED! I went home crying and vowed to put my "party" days behind me. Once at home, eyes puffy, tired from sobbing, I looked in on my angel sleeping and remember thinking..... he was worth it. So there you have it... my wardrobe malfunction.

Psalm 20, I was banded close to the same time you were. On November 7 to be exact. I felt restriction for about the first three weeks. I am "eligible" for a fill on the 19th of December but have decided not to do it until after the first of the year. I've only lost 10 pounds since surgery and it is an absolute fight everyday not to eat more than I should. My appetite is everything it ever was. While I've had some difficulties with things feeling stuck, I think it was because I forget to chew, chew, chew. Once I get filled, I'm really going to have to be careful and remember that. Does anyone know if I've stretched my pouch by eating more than 1 cup of food at a time. Frankly, once my appetite came back, and I no longer felt restriction, I simply forgot to watch the amount I was eating. I'm sure that's why I've only lost 10 pounds. Is there symptoms to having stretched your pouch that I can watch for? Remember I haven't had my first fill yet.

To My dear Bariatric Pals! I wanted to thank you all for your support during my jitters in the weeks leading up to the OR. Indeed, it was probably one of the most nerve wracking things I’ve ever done! As I close in on a week post opp tomorrow, I have refrained from posting too much about the experience because I think I needed a little bit of time, first of all to recover enough to be lucid enough to write coherently, but also because I needed to regain some of my emotional footing, as I let the enormity, irriversability and life changing capacity that this surgery has afforded me sink in. I will post several things on how I prepared emotionally for the surgery and also the things I found helpful on surgery day to help those who are close to the date and need support to make it through, at a latter date. But in this post I wanted to update you all on how I’m doing in a synopsis. First off…my surgery started at approximately 10:30am and lasted almost 3 hours, because along with the Sleeve, Band removal and Gallbladder removal, they found a hiatal hernia to repare (in short, I got the Blue plate special). Anasthesia was my biggest concern. Coming out of it took a long time…I was in pain and naucious but communicating with my caretakers gave them a chance to stabilize me such that by evening I was somewhat coherent. At first, I was really tight…even taking down an ice-chip was hard. And ofcourse there was the bloated gas to contend with. Knowing this I was armed with my on Gas Ex strips, forget the baby Simithicone they were giving me, but most importantly, as SOON as I could semi wobble, I started walking the hallways…my 2 hour cycles ran like this…Sleep, take pain meds, sip liquid, pee, and walk those hallways as much as I could, and very soon, the gas problem was mitigated. Leaving the worse problem my banged up throat (from intubation) which was so raw and bad he surgeon took a pic of it to show the anesthesiologist! It felt like a layer of skin has literally been sloughed off, and so red and raw. And when I swallow…some skin seems loose like I’m swallowing my throat…yeah…bad). After a nasty Barium swallow on day two I was clearned for liquids and the watered down Apple juice from an ounce cup felt like heaven! I was release at the end of day 3. Back home I continued to walk. My fitbit registereing 6k steps all week and today I did 10k steps. Now these are veeeery slow put persistent and steady steps throughout the day, and after pain meds, and the only reason I can do this is because in the months leading up, I got a fitbit and worked my way up to about 12k steps, so I highly recommend you start walking now. I finally was cleared from Clear Liquids to cream Soups today…wooo hooo. First few days I was not as hungry, but now, be it head hunger or what…mama wants some sustainance! And broth ain’t cutting it! The cream of mushroom was devine! I’m weaning off of Hydrocodine and moving to liquid gel Aleve. Upon my return home, gained Water weight coming back home from the IV as expected. My stomach feels distended and droopy as expected. And I have 6 incisions to nurse. The more I drank, the more I started to shed the IV Fluid weight. So keeping hydrated remains key. And now I’m lower than pre-op weight. I also found a book online. Emotional First Aid Kit Bariatric Surgery Patients to help hone some couping strategies for when I’m back in a world of doenuts. And that’s where I am folks! Just learning how to live in this Brave new world I’ve been born into. Much like a toddler, taking baby steps, learning what I can and can’t do. It’s still just a week, so I’m looking forward to more healing and the rewards which we all so freverantly seek. I hope my account is helpful to you. Sending you peace and love, Ellie123

Mine has been a slow buildup of things but I think the real kickers -losing 2 people one aunt and one uncle this last year. My uncle was on full time oxygen had to use a scooter full time and had had 3 different WLS in his life all which failed for him. My aunt who is and has always been my favorite person in the family also passed away this year she was only 10 years older then me and we were roughly the same weight. This devistated me and depressed me at the same time. Then a month or so later Doc said I had high blood pressure. Put me on meds. Another month after that put me on a second blood pressure medicine.. I looked down one morning at the 15 pills, I have to take each morning and realized I HAD to do something. And something drastic since nothing had worked in the past. The tv show on A&E probably helped also. I am tired of being a hermit, restricted on where I can go and what I can do. I've had it with that part of my life and ready to change it.