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!

Well said!

I am having some problems eating. I take 2 or 3 bites then have to stop cause I feel full or sick. The couple of bites I do eat are protein. I tried to go back to protein shakes but same thing a couple sips then I am done. It is a little disconcerning but I feel sick but not weak. Will it get better, will I get to eat a meal (protein and veg) some day?

I totally understand. I'm 4 weeks out and have the same experience. I no longer have the sick feeling because I measure out 2 ounces of food and eat no more than that. My friend said this is the mental part of the change. Teaching our minds that the amount we have is enough. My question is "how long does it take the stomach to heal?" I ordered the book Eating After Weight Loss Surgery. Hopefully, the recipes in the book will help provide tasty, protein packed meals.

I totally understand. I'm 4 weeks out and have the same experience. I no longer have the sick feeling because I measure out 2 ounces of food and eat no more than that. My friend said this is the mental part of the change. Teaching our minds that the amount we have is enough. My question is "how long does it take the stomach to heal?" I ordered the book Eating After Weight Loss Surgery. Hopefully, the recipes in the book will help provide tasty, protein packed meals.

I got the book for Christmas and it is totally helpful. Be sure to read the first 25 pages. Some good information in there. Good luck. Keep up the good work. Ainslee

How is everyone doing? The holiday blues? The holiday food? Weight loss? Exercise? Logging foods? Since I happen to be sitting home New Years Eve, which is fine with me, I thought maybe we could get this Forum started!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!! It is going to be the Best FIRST year of the rest of our lives. Thanks for being here.

Ainslee

Wow. Where to begin? Sitting at home with the family waiting for the ball to drop. All of us are very sleepy. We made sleep 2013 in.

So far so good. I'm scared of stalls so I avoid weighing in. I get my work outs in and stick to my two ounces of mushy protein three times a day. My clothes are much more loose. I will suck it up and weigh in tomorrow.

The book I ordered arrived today. Perfect timing! it's called Eating Well after Weight-loss surgery. I will begin reading it tomorrow.

I am looking forward to a healthier 2013.

Ok here I am !! Home with the kids. My husband is a PA and working in the ER tonight so I will be partying with a 10 and 16 year old O_o.

I was sleeved on the 11th. I feel pretty good most days. Funny some days I have to force myself to eat ( and drink) other days I feel like I want to go crazy and eat everything in sight!! My weight loss is slow but it's going in the right direction.

I went shopping for a little while today and bought two things from the regular department not the big girls department so that was nice !!

Haha I was sleeved on the 13th!! I think I should eat something cause I'm getting stupid !!

Haha I was sleeved on the 13th!! I think I should eat something cause I'm getting stupid !!

I've been stupid ever since my surgery on Dec. 6. I even asked the Doctor and NUT if this was related. They told me yes, thank God.

They said Carbs are your brain food. (I personally, lived on carbs) So the mind, and body are adjusting to all new levels of brain fuel. Makes sense. The Doctor said it takes quite a while for all the drugs to get out of the system.

Ainslee

Wow. Where to begin? Sitting at home with the family waiting for the ball to drop. All of us are very sleepy. We made sleep 2013 in.

So far so good. I'm scared of stalls so I avoid weighing in. I get my work outs in and stick to my two ounces of mushy protein three times a day. My clothes are much more loose. I will suck it up and weigh in tomorrow.

The book I ordered arrived today. Perfect timing! it's called Eating Well after Weight-loss surgery. I will begin reading it tomorrow.

I am looking forward to a healthier 2013.

30 MORE MINUTES to go. You can do it.

Congratulations on sticking to it. I have been bad with the exercise and then today I fell on my bad knee and can barely move it.

I have dropped 19 since my surgery Dec. 6. My Doctor wants me to loose 20 per month for the next 2 months and the remainder in the 6 months after that.

Better go put some ice on my knee.

Happy New Year!! Ainslee

Happy, blessed, peaceful, successful, healthy, loving and thin, 2013!!!!!!

And to all a Good night.

Ainslee

Happy New Year! I was sleeved 11-16-12 and I am down 40 lbs! I am so excited! : )

I made it to 12:30 AM, then I was sleep. Going to the gym to start the year right.

Happy New us!!! Happy New Years sleevers! I am still not hungry, and this is a very interesting state of mind. I have ALWAYS been hungry. (as a child my transitional object was a pork chop) I still prefer the milk/yogurt/2 oz of fruit smoothies to purée de protien. I have already lost two sizes but now there is a tricky part. Everyone is telling me I am acting peculiar (even for me) not focused, I an having difficult sleeping. Anyone else feeling the same or am I having a behavioral issue?

Happy New Years everyone!

Mine is starting off great! I started off at a size 20 and yesterday I realized my 16w's were a little big. I tried on a pair of regular 14's and they fit. So ecstatic!