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Well here I am, almost 1 year post and something unexpected occured. I have noticed over the last month that I have been extremely hungry and feel like I could eat the entire kitchen (although I could only get a cabinet)! Something didn't seem right. I thought I was due for a fill (last fill was 7 months ago). I wasn't gaining weight, in fact I was still losing, but only like .5-1lb a month. Not very exciting. So I went to my doctor yesterday and after numerous giant needle pokes and failed attempts at a fill, the doctor says "lets not panic just yet!" Really? How can you say that to someone when there is a needle sticking out of their stomach and you can't pull out ANY, not one drop of fluid from my band that I saw you put in 8.5cc's back in November! A second doctor walks in and tries it as well without success. So, I see the doctor again tomorrow to attempt it again and then go for a plan of action. Could be a leak, a broken port, broken tube and the band may have slipped since all the fluid is potentially missing. I had an upper GI done back in February to ensure everything was still in place (due to low blood pressure - everything checked out). Everything was perfect! Now this! I really don't want to put my body through another surgery. Lord knows I have had a lot in my 32 years. So what do I do if they want to just "replace the port" if its a faulty port? Part of me just wants to opt out altogether and say take it out. Go for the sleeve? My family was against me doing this anyway. However, I have had success with the band. I've had some hiccups here and there, but nothing that I couldn't pull through. I have been reading these blogs about the misery people have had with the testing they do to dertermine this. Sometimes takes months. I am just so lost. I know this is not something I have done. However, if the band has slipped due to losing all of the fluid, it will have to be repositioned which equals another surgery. So not looking forward to this! Love my band, saddened by this unexpected news! Cheers~

Oh WOW am I ever glad this morning is over! For all that led me here, and for my team of doctors, and my amazing surgeion and most of all, for my husband and friends, I am EVER grateful! Surgery was completely uneventful, I was home by 12:30 and have managed the pain very well all day. In fact, I've had viruses that made me feel worse than I've felt all afternoon! It's awesome, I really expected the pain and discomfort to be worse. No problems with gas yet, but I have been up and around quite a bit. Pain meds make me super sleepy, so that's the only time I've really been down is to sleep a few hours here and there. I'm FINALLY on the recovery side, and I am so excited!!! Today's the last clear liquid day and tomorrow I get full liquids. I've never looked so forward to tomato soup in my whole life, but it sounds delicious right now. Great things are in store for me - thanks to everyone for your support here. I'm going to have a million questions, so be ready!

I have waited over 14 months for my sleeve day to get here. I've been through a lot of emotions over this time period as well. Approaching the mandatory counseling with a lackadaisical attitude -- not even sure if surgery was right for me. Even got to the point of quitting and then realized that if I ever wanted to consider the surgery down the road, I would have to go through this all over again. I discovered the sleeve (was looking into g-bypass) and that peaked my interest. TI became a sponge and tried to read everything about the VSG. Got super nervous that the insurance company wouldn't approve me but they did. Then changing doctors because I didn't like the first one. Once I got my approval at the beginning of May, I was able to select my own date since I knew I couldn't have the surgery until June due to work logistics. Then waiting for June 14 to get her and now I'm almost there!!! My hat goes off to all of the forum members who had to do more than one day of a pre-op diet. I only had to do it today and I'm freakin' starving!! I've just been keeping my mind busy -- tying up loose ends at work. I went through the panic stage over the last month, thinking to myself, "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING??" I just kept the reasons I'm doing this, in the forefront so as not to lose site of the reason I started this journey. My BFF and my daughter also kept refreshing my memory as to why I'm doing this. I am 55 years old and I truly wish this was an option through my insurance 10 years ago but, hey! whaddya gonna do? LOL Tomorrow at 9am I will begin the first day of the rest of my life and join all of you kind people on the infamous losers bench!

Everyone has their own individual journey to follow. You have chosen the path that is right for you, so you walk your path. Hold your head up high. You've done all you can do. Maybe, just maybe, she'll see you get to goal in a healthy manner and it will inspire her to clean up her act. If not, you can't do anything more to help her. She's grown and she will do what she wants to do. Good luck to YOU on YOUR journey!!

You already have a great attitude. You are gonna do great. Don't worry about your friend. Congrats

Someone told me that I should keep track of my experiences, thoughts, success, etc. So here I am, writing about my life and kinda nervous about it. Who am I? I'm 36 years old, team lead of accounts payable for a large private company. I'm someone that you would view as successful and confident. but i'm not confident at all! I'm 334 lbs as of today at my doctor's. I've been overweight my entire life. Growing up you'd have viewed me as the pudgy kid that everyone liked. but somewhere around 4th grade that all changed. Whether it was the sudden need for glasses (and the subsequent non-stop teasing)....or the freaky way I found out my dad did drugs....I started to put on pounds quickly and never stopped. I became a loner, only associating with others that would be considered loners. Only one person stayed with me during all this, my best friend from 1st grade (and btw, we're still friends today). in junior high it got worse, i packed on the pounds faster. My uncle tried to rape me and I was trying to hide my body from all men in order for them to NOT want me. By College I was around 280lbs and a size 26. Four years later I was a size 30. Today i'm a size 34. I'm not confident at all! I hate the way my body looks....truth be told I hate everything about me (personally). I've struggled with depression all my life and it affects the way I view myself inside. I have tried to lose weight every way possible. I've tried liquid diets, i've tried atkins, i've tried weight watchers, i've tried counting calories, you name it i've tried it. The most I ever lost was 20lbs and it came right back (and then some). Truth be told, I never truely wanted it more than I want it right now. But it's too late to do it on my own now. I need help! and the Sleeve is the tool I have chosen for myself. I did a lot of research and put a lot of thought into it. But I could never do this alone! Luckily I have a wonderful man in my life and he fully supports whatever decision I make. And since he lives with me he will be there to help me stay on track, etc. You may be asking yourself (or maybe not) what made me finally decide to lose the weight once and for all. On March 7, 2008 my baby sister (at 20) died in a violent car accident. She was the sunshine of the family, the glue that kept us all together. Losing her almost killed me. I wound up in the hospital and discovered I was bipolar and finally got the help I needed. She was always the pudgy one in school but was popular. The last year of her life she was losing weight, joined the track team, was doing really well in school. She talked to me over and over about needing to get a grip on things and lose the weight. A week before her death mom and I got to see her in a track meet. she was awesome! (in our eyes....about average over all) the last thing I ever said to her was that I loved her and was proud of her, and with a hug we parted ways forever. When I finally got myself together I remember her gentle proding to start losing the weight. And i've tried to do just that ever since. I can just imagine her in the background, cheering me on, praising each little victory with me. You see by the time I got a grip I was up to 382lbs....now i'm 334! big difference right? I'm finally learning how I need to eat and how much i'm supposed to eat. and this surgery will just help me get that much further. to do this surgery you have to have people behind you that will support you through the entire process. It doesn't have to be a lot of people, just ones that will sincerely be there along the way. for me that's my boyfriend, my best friend, and a handful of co-workers. Unfortunately that is NOT my family. It hurts me to think that they won't support me in this. because of their reaction I've stopped telling anyone else. my department at work has over 30 people in it. only 8 know. my parents know. Dad initially tried to change my mind the day that I hinted at it to them. he hasn't said a word since, just ignored it like it wasn't happening. Mom is actively trying to get me to NOT do this. My other sibling doesn't like it, but will support my decision....besides she's 3 hours away anyway. Mom is the one that told one of my aunts (who hasn't said a word) and my grandmother. After doing some research of her own my mother told my grandmother what she discovered about the risks and complications of the procedure. my grandmother called me balling her eyes out and BEGGING me NOT to do this. It was the hardest thing i've ever done to stick to my decision and talk through her fears. don't think it helped much though. since then my family just ignores it like it's the elephant in the room. If I had a word of advice to anyone that's still thinking about doing the sleeve it would be to think Long and Hard about your decision. do the research, ask lots of questions, use this site (it's awesome!?!). but most of all....make sure you have some strong support. there will be people out there (like my family) that will actively try to change your mind....or come against you for doing (or have done) this. If you're not absolutely sure about your decision you will be in turmoil. I'm telling you right now, if I didn't have my boyfriends support I would not be doing this. he is my strength. he helps me remember to let things go, think positively, etc etc. the exact opposite of me...lol. he's the love of my life and i'm awed to have such a great man in my life. okay, guess i've talked long enough. I'm going to sign off. till next time. *Hugs*

After reading all of the issues with the pre-op diet I am hoping I will be able to function properly during my work days. I am starting my diet on the 22nd with surgery on the 29th. I believe I am more stressed about my emotional being that week than I am about the pending surgery! I am brand new to this blog, however I believe there is great support here!

I did that once right before surgery and a couple of times afterwards. I am normally a very outgoing, happy person - we all can just have a bad day. This too shall pass. Trust me!

Lack of food or food from your normal diet, your brain can become tired. And there may be underlying stress that you aren't fully aware of.

Yep, even this old lady has re-discovered how great sex can be after some weight loss! It's amazing and I am much more active than before. DH is very happy and so am I!