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How has your health improved post-op?



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Losing the weight is our primary goal, but I also want to hear about what other health benefits people are experiencing as a result of losing the weight or other changes you've made to food choices and your activity levels.

Has your diabetes gone away? Have your allergies or asthma lessened or disappeared? How is your arthritis? Still got swollen legs and ankles? Is your skin clearer or rosier? Has your cholesterol gone down? Have you had to reduce or elimate medications? Etc...

If you have seen changes, has it been just losing the weight that has made the difference, or has it been other changes you've made since being banded that have contributed?

:cursing: Let's hear it!

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I think one of my biggest changes is having a normal period. I use to only get it 3-4 times a year. People would comment that I should be thankful for that... but really it made me feel abnormal.

I never knew when it was gonna come... or if I might be pregnant. It feels good to be normal and predictable once again!

My cholesterol is down, I nap MUCH less, and do seem to have less headaches than before.

I have also weened myself off of antidepresants already and all has gone well. I know this is due to feeling much better about myself!!!

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Awesome! My cycles have been irregular for as long as I can remember...that's one change to "normal" I'm not looking forward to.

Glad to hear about your cholesterol and mood meds. Great progress all around!

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I was banded on 8-27-07. I was on a liquid diet for 4 weeks prior to that. By the end of September, I was off of the 3 blood pressure pills I had been on! My energy level is awesome!!!! I don't think twice about dropping off my car for repairs and walking 3 miles home. I used to tell my kids that I couldn't walk a block to the park because it was too far. I recently went off my C-Pap machine for sleep apnea. My ankles, knees, and feet used to throb from 6 hours of teaching. Now, I they don't hurt at all. When my weight was at it's highest, my chest would hurt when I would lay down. As of this morning, I'm just 5 pounds away from the 100 pound mark! I LOVE MY BAND!!!! :cursing:

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9) I can cut my own toenails;

Is that a good start?

Jack! Awesome start.

Just the other day I started writing down the things I'm looking forward to after I lose the weight...giving myself a pedicure was on the list! :thumbup:

You're an inspiration! :cursing:

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I used to have Gastric reflux atleast once a week. I also had a very high blood sugar. Before the Pre-op diet, My sugar had gone as high as 250 in the morning.

When i first started the liquid diet (12 days before the surgery) my sugar was 167.

I had my surgery on May 12th. And now my sugar in the morning range anywhere from76-100. I'm hoping that when i go in to see my regular doc she will agree that my diabetes is going into remission...

Also, I had PCOS (irregular periods). Before last month, I missed my period for 9 months. Maybe it's a coincidence, but this is now the second consecutive months that i'm having my period....

So... my health totally improved! I love it!

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Very well put!

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Normal blood pressure without meds. Normal blood sugars without meds. No more reflux - or meds. No more swollen legs and ankles. No more medications at all. Haven't had blood work done since I started this journey (will do that next month) but expect all values will have improved. I've had great improvements in health very quickly!

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I've lost 75lbs so far. But I have to say that I noticed a difference in my back and knees after 25-30lbs weight loss. I hardly ever get knee pain anymore and my back hasn't gone out since I had the surgery.

You mentioned somthing interesting about allergies. Mine have gotten worse since the band. Anyone else have more problems with their allergies post surgery?

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33 lbs lost so far. Went down from a 10 ml BP tablet to a 5 ml one. No more diabetes tablets (was only on them for about 3 months before I had the lapband). I'm going for another sleep test to see if that has improved. I walk nearly every day and feel so much fitter. Can't wait to lose more because I want to be totally off my BP meds. Woohoo!!

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I was banded on May 7th.

No more prilosec

No more blood pressure pills

Quit 2 medicines for diabetes and only taking 1 1000 tablet of Metformin.

Need to have my blood tested to see how the cholestral is doing.:rolleyes2:

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It seems like the overall theme here is that health benefits are being enjoyed after the first 30 pounds of weight loss for most of us. That is so amazing! Isn't the band grand! :rolleyes2:

Great job everyone!

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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