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!

On surgery day 11/07/12 I was 218 and a super tight 16....

This me a couple days ago 02/03/13 I am at 175 and wearing skinny jeans in a size 10 !

Hoping up be a size 6 by summer

You can get to size 6! You look amazing!!

Everybody is doing so good!! You all look great! I wish you all continued success in the future. I wasSleeved 11/5, down 57lbs..I'm so happy with my progress. Started at 325, day of surgery I was 310..Currently I weigh 253..I'm 6'1. I would like to lose another 25-30lbs..

Wait a minute!! Hold on!! Boston George !!

Hellllloooo... Looking good and you like the chili peppers

Everybody is doing so good!! You all look great! I wish you all continued success in the future. I wasSleeved 11/5, down 57lbs..I'm so happy with my progress. Started at 325, day of surgery I was 310..Currently I weigh 253..I'm 6'1. I would like to lose another 25-30lbs..

Are you freaking kidding me? You look so thin and so different. Great job. BG. WOWSA

Back off lady I saw him first...... : p

Although its hard compete with a cat...

You can get to size 6! You look amazing!!

Speaking of looking amazing....You look terrific!! 25-30 more is a good goal my husband is around your height and he can get to about 215 without looking too skinny.I like a healthy looking man

Wait a minute!! Hold on!! Boston George !!

Hellllloooo... Looking good and you like the chili peppers

Haha! Thanks!! I do like the chili peppers

Speaking of looking amazing....You look terrific!! 25-30 more is a good goal my husband is around your height and he can get to about 215 without looking too skinny.I like a healthy looking man

Thanks Kali!! That would be my ideal weight, 215..I hope I can get there! You look so good by the way!

Are you freaking kidding me? You look so thin and so different. Great job. BG. WOWSA

Aww thanks Ainsleet! I appreciate it

Back off lady I saw him first...... : p

Although its hard compete with a cat...

Too funny

Wow, Boston, you look great. The sleeve definitely agrees with you. Are you at your goal weight yet?

Wow, Boston, you look great. The sleeve definitely agrees with you. Are you at your goal weight yet?

Thank you so much! And so do you I would like to lose another 25-30lbs..We'll see!

Everyone is looking great! I am finally in onederland ...whoo.hooo I am at 193 with a starting weight of 240!

This is the best thing I ever did! If I new how to post a pic from my iPad I would;)

Everyone is looking great! I am finally in onederland ...whoo.hooo I am at 193 with a starting weight of 240!

This is the best thing I ever did! If I new how to post a pic from my iPad I would;)

Awesome job!! Heading into the "onerderland"

Is definitely a good feeling!!!

I was sleeved November 19th. My weight a week before the surgery was 224. This morning I finally broke 180 with a weight of 179. I feel like the entire month on January I gained and lost the same 3 pounds toggling between 181 and 183. My size 16s are huge on me but I am not buying any new clothes yet. I would have thought that 45 pounds would have led to smaller sizes but I was at old navy this weekend and some 16s were tight. Oh well sizes are only numbers. I still struggle to get my liquids, vitamins and any food in. I do get around 50 grams of protein in a day but I feel like that's all I eat. All in all it was a great decision that I wouldn't change although I had no idea how difficult the journey would be.