Mxmom740

Hey there! I am 5 months post-op from my VSG and have hit my goal weight of 135 lbs. However, I have continued to lose weight & am now at 128 lbs. I'm starting to have some issues with my hair coming out (usually only when I'm brushing or washing it), but enough that it concerns me. Can I get some input on what vitamins or supplements may help? What do others do in this situation? I live in a small town & have minimal access to shopping. Any good OTC vitamins out there? I feel good; I have a good appetite. I'm trying to eat more often since I can't eat more quantity.

I'm 5'5" and hit my goal weight today of 135 lbs. I was told earlier this week that I had gotten "freakishly thin".... I actually laughed though! It was from a friend I hadn't seen in a couple of months. Don't worry yourself...sometimes people just say what they're thinking! LOL! Congrats!

I had my Lap-Band done in April 2012 & at first, it seemed to work really well for me! I lost a total of 35 lbs. initially....then it seemed to stop working. I tried to change my diet, jump start & modify my exercise,....but I didn't get much success. After being "sick" (i.e., blockages, stomach aches, vomiting, ) the past 4-5 months, I decided to have my band removed & to have the VSG done in its place. I am traveling back to Mexico to have my same surgeon do the conversion. I'm not really nervous because I know what to expect...I just have some issues w/ feeling like a failure because the weight didn't melt off of me! Probably just have some unrealistic expectations ~ LOL! I'm actually very excited about the VSG & am counting down the remaining 10 days until surgery like a kid waiting for Christmas :-D I plan to read a lot of these Forums & see what others have done during their journeys ~

Remember that tomorrow is a new day.... and that you are human. Learn from what you did yesterday. That is my mantra...I'm 6 week post Lap-Band conversion to VSG. Down 26 lbs. in 6 weeks & only 24 lbs. from my goal weight (I started at 211 lbs. w/ my band & 185 lbs. w/ my VSG). Best of luck to you!!!! You can... and will....be a success!

I had my band converted to a sleeve on May 26, 2014 in Tijuana. My surgeon, for both surgeries, was Dr. Sergio Verboonen. I initially found him through International Patient Facilitators. Both of my surgeries were facilitated by Sheri Burke, who I just adored! I researched Dr. Verboonen & was pleased with what I know about him. My original band was done in Cancun, where Dr. Verboonen travels monthly. Hope this info helps!

Yes to the reflux question....Never had it before, but it's reared it's ugly head since surgery. Managing it ok; just an inconvenience at this point.

I just had a lap-band to sleeve revision done in Tijuana on 5/26/14. My patient facilitator set me up w/ a "surgery buddy" who was traveling alone. My husband traveled w/ me & took care of both of us! I think I have made a life-long, lasting friendship w/ my buddy! See if your facilitator or liaison can research for you who else may be traveling to your same facility that day. Best of luck to you! I am very happy w/ my decision so far :-D

Good luck w/ all the revisions! I am 2 weeks, 2 days post-op & generally, feel pretty good! Down 16 lbs. so far & just trying to remind myself to DRINK!!! LOL! So glad I did it & looking forward to maintaining for life!

Can you add me too? I had my Lap-Band converted to a VSG done on May 26th. On the day of surgery, I weighed 185 lbs. I weighed myself yesterday (2 weeks post-op) & weighed 169 lbs. Goal weight is 135-140 lbs. Now I'm starting to struggle w/ the liquid phase because I want some applesauce or yogurt or something I can kind of chew! Grrrrr..... But happy w/ my results thusfar!!!

I had the same thing happen to me. Went to the ER & turned out I popped a stitch or two from coughing/sneezing. This was a week only. Been keeping it clean w/ a breathable bandage over it & the drainage has almost stopped. No discoloration, odor or any other indication of infection. Glad your's turned out well too!

So I went this past Friday to St. Louis & had my fill done under a new PA. While looking at my band under the fluoroscope, she said she didn't see or feel any "tilt" to my port. She did say that it may have had a "tilt" to it, but with the weight loss and exercising, I have somewhat moved its positioning. She added another .5cc to my 4cc band (I now have a total of 3cc in it). I almost didn't feel a thing!!! It was virtually painless & not uncomfortable in the least :-) My barium swallow pics looked great & I now feel restriction! I will weigh in tomorrow (once a week) so I'm curious to see what I've lost since the fill. Anyways, I guess there is hope for all of us "tilted ports"! :-)

I find it extremely difficult to plan meals! I think that is part of my problem! I'm a police officer, who's married w/ 2 kids & my life is nuts! :-) I don't necessarily have a "typical" grocery list, but I do load up on chicken, fish, veggies, some fruit. With my job, I sometimes have to resort to pre-packaged microwave meals for lunch, but I just try to find the ones w/ the least amount of fat & sugar. I have been trying to limit my sugar intake quite a bit and only sweeten with Truvia instead of Sweet & Low or sugar. I know that with myself, if I get off of a healthy diet, start eating out a lot & snacking, I am doomed! With needing a fill, I have been finding I can eat more at one sitting & am hungry more often.... This fill, I'm hoping, will be what I need to get back on track. I guess we'll see :-D

Yes, cost was the primary factor why I chose to have my surgery done in Mexico. I did about 6 months worth of research & found a patient facilitator & surgeon that I clicked with. The experience was better than I had expected & I've had no real complications from it. My insurance company's stance was that I either needed to develop diabetes (or another chronic health condition) or gain more weight (I'm 5'5" and weighed 211 lbs. the day of surgery). Needless to say, neither of those were an option for me! I'm happy with what I've done and hopefully, this fill tomorrow will jump start my weight loss. I don't want my "tilted port" to keep me from being successful! :-D

Anyone have the issue of a "tilted" port? My surgery was done in Mexico last year & the last time I had a fill was over 6 months ago... I have one scheduled for this Friday, as my weight loss has plateaued and I have limited restriction. The PA who did my fill had advised me that the port was "tilted". It made it a little more difficult to get the needle in where it needed to be, but overall, it seemed to be okay. I still have port pain on a fairly regular basis, but there's no rhyme or reason for it. I pay for all of my own fills & they are all done under a fluroscope so I feel pretty confident in my physician here in the States. Also, my surgeon placed my port just to the left of my belly button. Anyone else have that? Or are they off on the side? Don't get me wrong, I'm really happy w/ my surgeon and the outcome. Just have some lingering questions/issues related to my port....

I'm 10 months post-op and my weight loss has plateaued also.... I have an appointment for a fill this coming Friday and I'm well over-do for one so I blame myself for that. These past few months have been very stressful, not losing weight. With virtually no restriction, I'm finding I can eat a lot more food & I haven't been keeping track of my daily food intake. So this is what I've decided to do.....get the fill, log ALL of my food intake, be vigilant about eating the proper foods & exercising at least 3 days per week, 1-1.5 hours each time. I'm finding that I love cardio!!! I don't know that I have the right answers, but I'll offer up what I'm going to do. You're not alone in your struggles so know I'll be rooting for you!!!! I hope you find what works best for you ~ Good luck!

I still have port pain & I'm 9 month post-op. I was advised that it has to do with my stomach muscles & how much I'm working them (i.e., working out, tossing & turning at night). Most day it's fine, but some days, it's pretty painful. Prior checks of the port placement have indicated that the port itself is fine; just my body's way of dealing w/ it. I'm presuming I will just have to live w/ it some days! :-) Good luck!

I am 9 month post-op Lap-Band & have been having a lot of pain in my port area recently... It almost feels very tender inside & usually lasts for a couple of hours. Happens a lot after I eat or sometimes it just hurts when I wake up in the morning. I haven't had a fill since July 2012 & am currently scheduled for one March 1, 2013. I have no idea why it happens, but it is really, really uncomfortable! Anyone have any thoughts on it??? Thanks <3

I was banded on 04/13/2012 & lost 30 lbs. the first 3 months. However, I seem to be stuck with the weight loss. I'm presuming I need more exercise &/or less calories. I am on a 1200 calorie or less per day regime.... My starting weight was 211 lbs. & I am currently at 179 lbs. Does anyone have any real suggestions to jump start my weight loss? I considered going back to liquids, but I feel that's unreasonable. I work in law enforcement, work 12 hour shifts & hardly have any time to do extracirricular stuff, let alone exercise. I self-paid for my surgery & really want to do the right things! Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!!! Thanks!

I had my last fill done the 2nd week of June. I still have restriction & still seem to get full fairly quickly. I am starting to work on eating more Protein & avoiding the carbs. I have lost 2 more lbs. in the past 3 weeks so I guess I'm losing something :-) I have started logging my food @ myfitnesspal.com & that does seem to make me feel much more accountable. Thanks for the input! I am still working on my "happy medium", but I'm not gaining either so that's good!

pizza is my nemesis!!! I could live on it!!! Nowadays, I will eat 1 piece VERY, VERY slowly ~ thin crust, no meat, only veggies Usually 1 piece will fill me up; occasionally I will eat 2 small ones. Sure beats the 4 or 5 I used to wolf down on a regular basis!!! If I had to completely remove pizza from my diet, I know I would not be successful. Moderation has been my saving grace these past 3 months. Keep it up; you can do it!!!!

I reguarly monitor my weight loss on the scale, but my realy inspiration is what size pants I can fit in!!! I am 3 months post-op. I started at 211 lbs. and am currently at 179 lbs. It seems like the weight is coming off slower now, but I can see the changes in my body. I was normally wearing a size 14 and am slipping into some of my size 10's now :-) That to me is the most exciting thing!!!! Everyone's body is so different & watching the changes is what motivates me!!! Good luck ~ keep up the good work!

Good luck tomorrow !!!! I hope it helps make your life everything you want it to be ~ it's made a great difference to me so far!!!

Way to go!!!! I'm just under 1/2 way to my goal and am SO excited for what the future holds! Congratulations!!!

I had my surgery done in Mexico on 4/13/12. I have had 2 fills done in my band through a practice in St. Louis who agreed to provide my aftercare. I pay cash for it ($400 initial consult/exam/1st fill under fluroscopy) & $250 (exam/fill under fluroscopy), but have been very pleased w/ my care. My surgeon provided me w/ my post-op report which I gave to my family doctor & to my aftercare center. While researching a follow-up facility, I did find that many places will not provide care if they did not do your initial surgery ~

This time last year, I was absolutely miserable :-( It was summertime & I was feeling SO fat, especially when it came to a bathing suit. A size 14 was really, really tight on me. I'm 2.5 months post-op now & wore a size 10 this week :-D It is the little things in life now that make me smile & I realize I CAN DO THIS!!!