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I didnt realize you where from Seattle. I live in Vancouver,BC and was just literally in Bellingham,Wa yesterday evening shopping for post-op stuff. I thought I would be able to find some of the vitamins/supplements we can not get up here in Canada, but no such luck. Guess I am gong to have to order all my supplements online. May I ask what your plans are post-op vitamin/supplement wise as soon as you get home from surgery.

I was banded 3/11/13 an still waiting for first fill. Went to first folliw-up app. couple weeks ago an after asking me about being hungry, an how much I was eating she said to run with it for another month. Next app. is 5/2. Still maintaining weightoss of around 20 lbs. since surgery...havent gained or lost any more for awhile now but my BS numbers are drastically improved an thats the main priority for me right now so Im good with it all.

cmjanssen not sure what you mean...so you aren't going to get refilled once you have another baby? maybe that BC implant was working against the band...just thinking? not sure because I have no idea what that is (had to look it up)...LOL...I'm older!!! but whatever you chose best wishes to you!!!

Was banded last May. I only lost 17 pounds. I never got the hang of the eating! I was ALWAYS hungry. I had all of the fluid removed from my band in February. Planning on having another child I had my BC implant (implanon) removed last week. Within three days I was questioning how I ever ate so much food! For the past three years I have just been eating everything in sight! Now I know I will be able to loose weight! I did it before lost 91 pounds in a year. Eating healthy and working out and since the implant was put in I couldn't do it! Sad about spending 10k on my surgery but excited about post pregnancy weight loss! Maybe I won't gain 60 pounds with the next baby!

More labs? uhhh! What is a ekg? They didnt tell me about having xrays. I will email my surgeons office bc i fell i should have been told what to expect. I only thought this what about talking about surgery, and paying.

I'm 11 days post op, and I struggle with my Protein daily! I used the EAS chocolate before, and never had a problem with it. Now it makes me feel nauseous. I also bought some off Amazon that is "unflavored", it stinks so bad I can't even attempt to taste it for fear of gagging. I also bought some vanilla protein and it does the same as the chocolate. If ou run across something that works, let me know please, bc I'm averaging about 40 g of protein a day.

I got a from the lady at the hospital yesterday to let me know she will be summit my paperwork to Fed BCBS today for approval. It's usually takes 15 days to here from back them. Wish me luck. She said if everything go as planned I will have my sergury mid February.

I was 282 when I got banded. I had lost about 30 lbs on my own. It took me a year at least to lose that. I was fed up at not being able to lose more so that is when I looked into the lapband. Good luck to you.

Kevin, call the customer service number of your insurance. let them know what you have done and ask them to tell you what they require. once you submit everything to the bariatric center, ask them who to contact in their office for an update as to when they send in your paperwork and what their experience is. Follow up with the insurance and learn their process. I took my waiting time form 3-4 weeks to one week processing time. I have BC/BS of CA though. Please continue to do your research. Know that hunger is sometimes felt with the band until you obtain your "sweet spot" . Hope this helps you and I wish the best in this journey you have just begun.

Weighing yourself during the day is a no no. I fluctuate during the day. I only count my morning weight after Ive been to the bathroom. All other times of day are invalid as far as Im concerned. Right now weight loss isnt the focus. You need to heal. You need accept this foreign object into your body. You need to turn your attention to your hunger and patterns of eating. The weight will come off. LATER. Slowly. I found it came off in chunks. NOthing for a week or so, then one day I wake up and 3 kilos are gone. Im in a country where kilos are used, but that's almost 7 lbs! This band is a 10-15 year solution. Its not a quick fix. I know we are all in a hurry to get this fat off of us, but i think those that shed the weight without being aware of how your body FEELS and how your hunger is present and driving you, will put the weight back on once you learn how you can CHEAT! ANd there are ways to cheat with the band. its only a tool. Im sure everyone is different but you will find ways you can intake calories when youre not hungry. When youre eating bc youre bored or tired or emotional. There is no fill that can prevent milkshakes from going down. You can slurp tons of high fat and calorie drinks down all day if you want. But whats the point? Why get a band? Why go through all this just to sabotage yourself? Relax and make peace with the band. It will do its job. I love it. I can eat almost anything I want, feel full most of the day which means then i forget about eating, and the weight just comes off slowly and naturally.

I've chosen not to tell my patents or in-laws bc I know they won't be supportive. It's sad, but true. It took me three years to reach this decision and its about saving my own life and living a long time to mother my three, small children. My husband is nervous, but very supportive, and my best girlfriends are my biggest cheerleaders so I'm VERY lucky to have a great team. But even if I didn't, I made this decision by myself, about myself and would do it anyway. I hope you will have some peace of mind and that you're family will come around and support you! I bet they're reacting negatively out of fear and worry. Try to educate them as best you can. Good luck to you!!

I almost reached that weight and I realize how fortunate I was to have a second chance. BMi is based on height and weight and at 5'6 488lbs my BMI was 78.8 the day I walked in and met my Surgeon. He told me if I could lose 5% of my weight and put the work in and if insurance approves it he would give me a tool to use to help turn my life around. It is unfortunate help is not easily as accessible for others as it was for me. I think all insurance companies should cover bariatrics but I agree with educational side of it. Blindly approving people for it without proper education would be a huge mistake. Fear of death is a huge motivator it is just unfortunate it came to that but it also taught me a life long lesson that there is no "fix" for obesity and it will forever be work in progress until the final day of my life. Edit: Not a complaint but rather an observation....I have lost 325+ pounds and I am still in the overweight category. I am sure if I had all the loose skin removed I would be in the norm but let's face it those BMI charts are a joke. My Surgeon even told me they're BS.

Hey there Maybe some of you remember me and my journey so far... not an easy one. a BRIEF reminder and then maybe some of you can offer some 'advice' (seeing my surgeon next week). 2 weeks post op: infection around stomach,fever 102 hospitalised 3 weeks post op: NORMAL! had a great week but very hungry 4 weeks post op: port flipped, sugery to reposition and small fill 6 weeks post op: infection in port area and stomach closed up completely(total unfill) liquids for 1 week and then soft foods for week 7 8 Weeks post op STILL can't eat solids without throwing up or getting stuck. I still don't have any fill in my band.. just as well with all of this!! I am chewing really well, and after just a few fork fulls I get that golfball and need to throw up. I usually only manage about 4 or 5 small bites of anything solid before throwing up most of it. I wait between bites a minute or so. I am only eating small soft foods right now but I wanted to ask if anyone else struggles with solids? I usually stick to minced meat or chicken or fish.. with soft vegetables (non fibrous kinds ie carrots spinach etc)... I have even vomited Soup and yoghurt this week! My doctor did a barium check on me last week and said I was still slightly swollen but my band is in a perfect position as is my port and that the liquid was going through well.. He said to take it slowly with solids but HOW SLOW!??? How many times do you chew? How big a bite do you take? (I take about half a fork full and smaller) How long do you wait between bites? ( I am sick of cold food now!!) I get so fed up of the golf ball and the pain in the back of my throat (tightening and tingling) that i usually give up and have a shake (if anything at all!) ... although saying that I was at a kids birthday party this week and so hungry I ate a cup of 'cheetos' (how easily did THEY go down??) and a mini magnum bar... (all no no's. but as I had consumed little to zero calories I didn't think it would hurt much.. it didn't.. no pain at all!. go figure) Am I destined for a life of shakes!?????.... I am seeing my doctor next week.. but could do with some support. Have lost roughly 30 pounds since my op ... but haven't really lost anything in the past 2 - 3 weeks... Not exercising either as I tore a ligament in my ankle last week... ouch!! OH and then a bee stung my big toe (the one in the cast!!!)..not doing too great eh!!? Am happy to have my band still..you won't find miseries here!!! THanks guys!!!

I cant seem to get my.protein in...and I highly doubt I eat or drink even 500 calories a day. Nothing but milk now seems to bother me but I need protein ideas bc the shakes are hard.for me to get down. I eat and drink very slowly and after a few bites there comes the gurgles ...annoying

More close minded BS

I HAVE BC-BS OF KENTUCKY, I HOPE, AND IT BETTER GO THROUGH:heh: LISA W

Thanks . I was surprised. Not because I thought I had it but bc the pulse ox thing I had to do the weekend before they said was consistent with apnea which was why I was sent for the study.

Reading about everyone's pre-op diets make me feel terrible. My doctor only requires a 1 day liquid diet the day before surgery so I feel spoiled. I am trying to eat healthy bc I don't want to go into shock post-op, but I do plan to have sushi one last time this weekend bc I doubt I'll be able to eat it for a long time bc of the rice and sushi is my most favorite food. Hang in there guys. You all seem to be doing good, even with a slip up here or there!

On November 11, 2013 my chance had arrived. I was going to have my Gastric Sleeve surgery. I had planned on three weeks from work hoping they would be understanding given the fact that I would return stronger and more motivated to continue a position I had held for nearly 14 years. I checked into the hospital bright and early and waited for my surgeon to arrive. Now I'm all prepped and have my husband and youngest daughter with me for support when the surgeon comes in and let's us know he'll be using "The Robot" to do my sleeve. Well I probably got a 4 min introduction to this procedure and it was time to go so I said ok, I trust you. About 90 minutes later the surgeon came out to my husband and daughter and announced there had been a slight problem and that a leak had been found but that he "fixed it by throwing a few stitches in it" and that I should be fine. I'm transferred into my room and must say I felt pretty good. Not heavily medicated but still pretty good. I had meds to control any nausea I had, warmed blankets' good. By day 2 I had that pain in my left shoulder and was told it was the gas they use during surgery trying to disparate. So as told I kept breathing deep, walking around trying to stay active as much as I could. It vas very difficult to stay hydrated because I just didn't have the desire to eat or drink, I was just tired by day 3. They decided to keep me an extra day just because of the leak they thought would take care of itself. I had my upper GI the morning before I left which showed no leak so I was discharged home! Yay. Within the next several days I saw tried to do clear liquids but still it was very challenging to force yourself to do something you know you must do. I was weak tired and slightly nauseas but hung in. I still had that pain in my shoulder. Breathing deep and walking wasn't helping. I resorted to a heating pad just to get some rest. Day 7 post VGS I was seen at my surgeons office. I told them about the pain in my shoulder and that I was having trouble meeting my fluid intake. They assured me this was normal removed my steri strips and sent me on my way. Work was only a week or 2 away now. I couldn't even imaging being strong enough for that but it was my goal. So 2 days after seeing my Dr I was told I could try soft foods jello pudding refried beans".. So I did just that. Tablespoon servings of corse but it sure tasted good. BMT still that pain in my shoulder and I'm continuing to be very weak. By day 11 post op I called my daughter and asked her to run my to our local hospital because I had started vomiting and was sure I just needed some fluids. Dehydrated ya know. So off we go. Upon arrival I could barely stand I was so weak, I had a 102* temp which I had been oblivious to and that there was my RED FLAG. I knew fevers were not good. Could be a infection right. They admitted me over night where I continued to become worse. I became delirious my fever was climbing. I was indeed severely dehydrated , had developed pneumonia and needed to be transferred back to the hospital where I had the surgery! When I arrived it was like a race going on, blood work, x-rays, CT scan I was becoming aware of the severity of it all. The CT showed I had a leak in the upper back portion of my sleeve which had leaked the contents of which I had consumed into my gut and up under my diaphragm. Emergency surgery was needed, the options were explained to me and at that point I just didn't want to die! I agreed to the surgery which consisted of cleaning out my abdomen and placing a feeding J tube into my small intestine and a drain into my abdomen. When I awoke I felt like my entire mid section was filled with cement! The pain was horrible. For the next week I honestly can't tell you much I was on so much Morphine it was horrible. For the 2nd week was filled with training on how to use my feeding tube because for the next 3-6 months I was allowed NOTHING by mouth. Just knowing I chose to do this... It was tough. So I would be fed through this tube directly onto my intestines my formula, my meds and my water. It sucked! Ok so now I'm out of work a month. Not my plan but I had no other choice. I had diarrhea all the time and I was miserable. After 2 weeks I was allowed to go home. I had a hospital bed in my living room because my bathroom was on the first floor. I had visiting nurse coming to change my pic line dressing and to make sure my drain was working properly. I was on the phone with my Dr office almost daily for check ins. Ugh awful. After about another week and a half my diarrhea continued and I was vomiting again. Yes even though you don't eat you can vomit! It was awful to I think about where it was coming from. So it was back to the hospital where I would spend yet another week being treated for a intestinal virus I picked up IN THE HOSPITAL! Lord help me. Ok so now I'm about 2 months from work hoping I'll be good. My feeding tube and drain would be removed after about 3 1/2 months. Thank you God! I have one more procedure in Boston to have. They would go down my throat to check the leak which had formed a bubble. They needed to make sure it was going to hold up and not rupture. They came to the conclusion that it was healed well and that I could return to work. Finally after almost 4 months I return to work. Happy to part of society again and making a paycheck. I drew 1 check from STD while I was out and the others arrived about 2 weeks after I returned to work. Ultimately 4 short weeks after returning to work I was laid off do to "salary cut backs" bullshit! Pure bullshit! So my weight loss isn't typical because of my delays. The first three months were spent in high calorie formula so I could heal and recover. Here it is 5 months later and 8 have lost a total of 47 lbs. not ideal but I'll take it. I'm averaging about 2 lbs a week now. I'm currently job hunting and trying to keep my chin up. I don't see to many stories of complications anywhere. Is it just that uncommon or are they not allowed? People should know all the facts and all the remedies to problems that could arise. Let me hear from you if you had similar outcomes. I need support too but am having trouble finding it. Thanks Lori

i was thin until i hit about 6ish... i was then fed mayo sandwiches on white bread as a snack from my mom... couple years later, she is wondering what is really making me pack on the pounds - gee - i wonder?? i was taken to a nutritionist at about 8 or 9 years old, did weight watchers in high school (i know i was under 180), did nutrisystem when i was at 180 after high school. i wanted to get to 140. HA - now i'd love to be 180, in fact it's my goal. i have progressively gone up and up until i hit about 420 a year or so ago, dropped down to 400ish (a kid will help in that area!!!) and my pre op weight was 402.5. i am lucky, i've dropped about 80 pounds so far, but i have a very long way to go...

My name is Stacey, and i'm from BC, Canada. I just got banded 2 days ago. Everything was smooth sailing except for my nerves and a bit of breathing trouble afterwards, but everything else went perfect. Just wanted to say hi!

Thank you guys for the support and encouragement! It literally bought tears to my eyes. I’m so happy to have found this site because WLS is not for the faint of heart. I will endeavor to cut out the drinking bc I don’t want to trade one health issue for another. Lily66 I wrote an affirmation on an index card the other day that said “I will be gentle with myself and others” - so your encouragement was the reminder I needed. Unfortunately I tend to be very hard on myself and stress out if I don’t do things perfectly. But perfection is overrated Thanks again guys!

Ummm... You're maybe not losing Bc you're "eating whatever you want". Anyway, try less than 50 carbs a day. You'll start losing again.

Back in the 1960's, I saw an episode of Star Trek entitled "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield" in which Captain Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise come across two humanoids; Bele and Lokai, from the planet Cheron. Each of them is half black and half white, starkly separated down the middle of his body. The only difference is one is black on the right side and white on the left, while the other is exactly the opposite. When I saw the show, I thought of it as a satire of race relations in the USA, but today I thought about it and realized that it might be more fittingly mocking the Jewish/Muslim battle now taking place in the Middle-East. If either Bele or Lokai were to stand in front of a mirror, he would see the image of his most hated enemy. A mirror image of a man white on his left would be a man white on his right. That is so fitting of today's (and yesterday's and probably tomorrow's) senseless slaughter taking place in and around Israel, because the Israeli and Muslim enemies are mirror images of each other. Abraham (Genesis 16) had two son's, one by his wife's maid-servant Hagar and then one by his wife, Sarah. The two sons, Ishmael and Isaac, are generally considered to be the fathers of Islam and Judaism, so the fight between Jew and Muslim is basically a family feud. In the "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield" episode of Star Trek, when Bele and Lokai return to their home planet of Cheron, they find a scene not too unlike that of Lebanon. The whole planet is now lifeless except for the two of them who beam down to continue their fight to the finish. Must the Middle-East lead the rest of the world down the same path taken by Cheron? Some will blame the problem on the Israelis. "They are bullying the Palestinians and the Lebanese", they will say. Some will blame it on the Muslims. "Hamas and Hezbollah are terrorist groups" they will say. "Iran and Syria are terrorist states arming terrorist groups" they will tell you. Bele and Lokai also had their excuses. "I'm white on the right, can't you see the difference?" Yet the Jews and the Muslims are both using the same tactic. Kill civilians until they put enough pressure on their leaders or until they choose new leaders to get their side to stop. But what has the despicable killing of civilians actually done? It has hardened each side's populace. There are many fewer Jews now ready to make piece with their Muslim brothers than there was three weeks ago. You might remember that after 911, the Republicans and Democrats came together in the US Congress to give President BuSh anything he wanted. There was unity in the streets of the USA. People; Black, White, Hispanic, Democrat and Republican were then Americans first. Osama Bin Laden and Al-Quaida brought the political left and right of the USA together. Well Israel's killing of civilians in Lebanon has brought the Sunnis and Shiites of the Middle-East together as never before. Even the Christians of Lebanon are now united with both the Lebanese Sunnis and Shiites. And the Sunni counties that have been friends of the USA are now criticizing Israel (and the USA) as if those Sunni countries were Shiite. President BuSh claims to believe in the sanctity of human life. He has vetoed legislation that would (in his opinion) destroy human life that is smaller than this period. Yet, he and Condoleezza Rice have proposed a piece-plan that must have "a lasting piece" which is a code-phrase for "when Israel wins". The Israeli prime minister told Ms. Rice that he might need 10 days to two weeks to win. Are we willing to watch both Israeli and Lebanese babies die for the next two weeks? Are those children any less valuable that the embryos that BuSh wants to protect? Sunday, a building in Lebanon was blown up with about 60 casualties. About 30 to 40 children died. About 600 Lebanese civilians including about 300 children have been killed in less than these 3 weeks. There have been about 30 Israeli civilians killed. Ms. Rice and Mr. BuSh claim that terrorism must be stomped out in the Middle-East (and around the world), but is it not terrorism to launch missile strikes, to fire artillery and use F16's to bomb populated areas? Hezbollah is wrong. Hezbollah is a terrorist group, but that does not make Israel right, nor does it make Israel any less of a terrorist country. People and countries must be judged, not by their friendship with the USA, nor the "Good Guy" sign that they fly, but by their actions. Israel is killing 20 Muslims (and Christians) in Lebanon for each Israeli that dies in the Hezbollah missile attacks. Doesn't "an eye for an eye" have any meaning to the Israelis? The bible does not say "20 eyes for an eye". Both sides are wrong. Both sides must stop fighting now. The USA must insist that there be talks. The USA must drop the BS line that we don't talk to terrorists. Pretending that Hezbollah, Syria and Iran do not exist just keeps the killing of babies going on for a longer time. Can't we learn something from Bele and Lokai, and Star Trek, or must the Earth wind up like the planet Cheron?

The sweets create a vicious cycle that makes you more hungry bc of insulin release, especially if you are eating them without Protein. I would make sure that you don't keep them in the house and don't buy them when you are out. Try to find substitutes that you like, such as fresh berries with ricotta and SF syrup, or Greek yogurt with an add-in like powdered Peanut Butter and sweetener. SF popsicles, or SF fudgesicles (not the best bc no protein--but better than eating something really bad for you). Drink plenty of Water so that you don't have time for dessert after meals. Think about how great you will feel when you reach goals!! that will give the sweets less importance. Good luck!