Let's get to know each other before our surgery...I'll go first.

My name is Amy (37 years old). I live in central FL with my husband and two kids, 3 yo DS and 4.5 yo DD. I work in IT doing technical writing and operational readiness. I love photography and have a small side business, and when I'm thinner, I really enjoy running and spinning.

I was banded in Nov 2009 at 374 lbs. From my banding until Dec 2011 (2 years), I lost 198 lbs. I was thrilled! Despite the occasional vomit and inability to eat certain foods, I was still 99.9% happy with my band. Right after Christmas this year, however, I got a terrible upper respiratory infection. I coughed and coughed and coughed. I coughed until I puked, which caused a slip.

I got a complete unfill in early January. Once the slip was fixed, I started getting fills. But then my band developed a leak and slipped once again. Since the surgeon I was seeing was less than helpful, I found a new surgeon, Dr. Domkowski, who finally treated me without acting like I was crazy, as my last surgeon did. Based on his recommendations and test results, we decided to do the removal and sleeve in two separate surgeries.

Dr. D removed my band on August 3, 2012. Because of the extent of damage done by the band, including scarring and pulling the fundus through the diaphragm, I am waiting around four months to be sleeved. I'd love to be banded on November 25, which would have been the three year anniversary of my band.

I've gained about 70 lbs since December. Sigh. The good news is my surgeon is not at all concerned about my weight gain. He is 100% convinced that I'll lose it all once I'm sleeved, since I was so successful with the band. I'm a bit of a goody two-shoes, and I followed the rules to a "T", and I intend to do the same with the sleeve.

I hope the next four months fly by!

My Sx was Nov. 7th

HW 234

SW 218

CW 160

Today is my birthday. I had a goal to reach 100 lbs lost by today. I am sitting at 87 lbs lost. I am sad that I didn't reach this mark, but I know I will sometime in the near future. My life has changed so much in the last 5.5 months. I am so grateful for my sleeve and all the encouragement and support my sleeve family has given me.

Today is my birthday. I had a goal to reach 100 lbs lost by today. I am sitting at 87 lbs lost. I am sad that I didn't reach this mark' date=' but I know I will sometime in the near future. My life has changed so much in the last 5.5 months. I am so grateful for my sleeve and all the encouragement and support my sleeve family has given me.[/quote']

Happy birthday! Awesome job on the weight loss! I have lost only 50# from sx so u have done freaking great! Don't be sad be proud of urself bcuz that's a huge accomplishment:-) good luck on the rest of ur journey!

highest weight 224#<br />sx weight 212# (11/20/12)<br />current weight 162#(4/28)

Today is my birthday. I had a goal to reach 100 lbs lost by today. I am sitting at 87 lbs lost. I am sad that I didn't reach this mark, but I know I will sometime in the near future. My life has changed so much in the last 5.5 months. I am so grateful for my sleeve and all the encouragement and support my sleeve family has given me.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY. What a celebration. You are doing GREAT. Remember goals should be realistic. You are not a failure, but a successful motivated, beautiful person, inside and out.

NSV - I just bought size 10 dressy shorts & capris at New York & Company. 5 months ago I was in an 18! The 10s were actually a touch loose too ! I'll tell you this surgery was the best thing I've ever done but man is it expensive clothes wise! My scale has been stagnant or even has gone up a couple pounds here or there in April so going down another size helped my psyche for sure.

Today is my birthday. I had a goal to reach 100 lbs lost by today. I am sitting at 87 lbs lost. I am sad that I didn't reach this mark' date=' but I know I will sometime in the near future. My life has changed so much in the last 5.5 months. I am so grateful for my sleeve and all the encouragement and support my sleeve family has given me.[/quote']

Happy Birthday! You have done GREAT the scale is moving and you will get where you need to be. Don't worry about how long it takes think about how far you have come in your sleeve journey 87 lbs is AWESOME.

Had a possibly TMI NSV yesterday.. I am basically blind without my glasses, I need things to be within 6 inches or so to see clearly so shaving my legs has been pretty hit or miss (mostly miss) for many years.. Yesterday I was able to bend over and actually see what I was doing I was pretty proud.

Other NSVs From size 4x tshirt to L, size 28 pants to a tight 16/loose 18. It's pretty amazing... I stole my oldest daughter's shirt the other day.. (don't tell her

Had a possibly TMI NSV yesterday.. I am basically blind without my glasses' date=' I need things to be within 6 inches or so to see clearly so shaving my legs has been pretty hit or miss (mostly miss) for many years.. Yesterday I was able to bend over and actually see what I was doing I was pretty proud.

Other NSVs From size 4x tshirt to L, size 28 pants to a tight 16/loose 18. It's pretty amazing... I stole my oldest daughter's shirt the other day.. (don't tell her [/quote']

That's how I feel too! Lol I can actually tie my shoes without feeling like I'm short of breath! I'm down from 22 size jeans to size 13. I can actually shop in the regular sizes now. My goal is 11# for the last wk of may when I go in for my 6 month check up!

highest weight 224#<br />sx weight 212# (11/20/12)<br />current weight 162#(4/28)

That's how I feel too! Lol I can actually tie my shoes without feeling like I'm short of breath! I'm down from 22 size jeans to size 13. I can actually shop in the regular sizes now. My goal is 11# for the last wk of may when I go in for my 6 month check up!

highest weight 224#<br />sx weight 212# (11/20/12)<br />current weight 162#(4/28)

Love going to the store and looking for a medium or large I also love knowing I could steal my 17 yr old stepdaughter's if I wanted to.25 more pounds and I'll weigh what I weighed when I was 17 OMG!

Hi everyone,

I was sleeved on 11/01/12 so yesterday was my 6month checkup. Doc said I'm doing really amazing.

Starting weight 328lbs current weight 223

down: 105lbs.

Greatest decision I've ever made.

Later I'll post pics at start & at 6months

Hi everyone' date='

I was sleeved on 11/01/12 so yesterday was my 6month checkup. Doc said I'm doing really amazing.

Starting weight 328lbs current weight 223

down: 105lbs.

Greatest decision I've ever made.

Later I'll post pics at start & at 6months[/quote']

AWESOME!!!

You also need to work on a new name you are not a "chunkygirl" anymore lol

Congrats to everyone...you are all doing so well! I had my 6 mo. Check up yesterday. Everything was great except I am low on iron. Have to work on that! Down 82 lbs., 35 to go to get to goal. Woot! Woot!

Hello

Sx date nov 15

Highest weight 255

Sx weight 229

Today's weight 177.2

Total lost 77

I'm in a current stall any suggestion?

Hi November sleevers (especially the Maryland folks)!

Well I am a little bit late but I had my surgery on November 29, 2012. I too am from Maryland originally. I moved to Waiheke Island (http://www.waiheke.co.nz) in New Zealand about 6 1/2 years ago. I have done very well since my surgery. I am down over 80 lbs. and have only about 20 lbs. to loose before I reach the 209 lb. mark that my surgeon has set out for me, by May 2014. I just had a follow-up with the surgeon here and I am due back for another follow-up in about 6months. I am planning to come back to the states at the end of June and possibly stay until the end of Oct. I have lots of things to attend to while back in the states.

Great to hear how well everyone is doing!

Karen

Hello

Sx date nov 15

Highest weight 255

Sx weight 229

Today's weight 177.2

Total lost 77

I'm in a current stall any suggestion?

I was stalled at 162 for 3 weeks scale kept going down then back up...I just kept doing what I am supposed to and tracking and last week the stall broke.I don't know any special tricks to break a stall faster nor am I sure they really would work any how. That is just my opinion though. My 11/7 Sx weight was 218 CW 158.The stalls seem to come and go naturally but the loss continues