Chaparra

Sorry to hear that you have had such a hard time, but I do have to say that hearing stories like yours has made me feel better about not going with the lap band. It seems like I see more and more people that have had problems with the lap band and have had to move to the sleeve surgery. Good luck with your surgery and just stay possitive. I have seem many, many success stories on this site from not only people that have had the sleeve, but people that have gone through similar situations as you have.

I can't believe she had the nerve to be so discouraging! I have seen many pictures of people that have gone over the 100 pound estimate. Just follow the rules, eat right and excercise and you should meet your goal. I was 287 when I started, 5'2 and my nutritionist told me at my last appointment, when I was 268, that I should get down to 150.

This is kind of graphic, but it kind of explains what they mean about "robotic". I've also watched another gastric sleeve video and it's pretty much the same, just without cutting out the band.

I'm concerned about the scars too, but at the same time, I would rather have a scar than all the loose skin I'm assuming i will have. =)

I actually wanted her, but I'm not disappointed at all with Montgomery.

Wow! I would have thought you went with Puget Sound Bariatric since they are out on that side. My doctor is Dr. Montgomery.

I put on a pair of pants today that I only wear once in a while. When my coworker told me that they looked really loose on me, that's when I went and looked in the mirror and saw just how loose they were. I like my jeans tight on my body and I felt like a hobo in these. They are a little looser (not much) on my thights, but are super loose on my lower leg and loose on my backside. I have been only able to see the weight loss in my face, until today. I'm down 37 pounds since starting my nutrition visits in June. I now hate how these jeans look on me (loved them before), so I will be putting them in the "no longer wearing" pile that I am now starting.

Congrats! I can't wait to be in the same place you are. =)

I had mine with Northwest Weight Loss Surgery. They are in Everett.

I wish I could give you advice. Mine was supposed to start, but all I ended up doing was spotting. I think I was more concerned about the fact that when I woke up from surgery, I had to use the bathroom so badly and when I asked, they seemed to be taking their sweet time, so I had to ask for a bed pan. I kind of felt sick when someone wiped me after I went. What was worse, for me, was the fact that they had to measure my urine output each time I went to the bathroom. I was totally embarrassed by that, but kept telling myself that these are medical professionals and it's their job and they have probably had to deal with something worse than my business. LOL

Thanks! I'm from Marysville Washington.

I think this forum is great for us all to share out thoughts and concerns about this surgery. I have to say that I wasn't concerned at all about any of the risks. I have read horror stories on here as well, but I've also read many more success stories. When I was at the hospital, everyone (even my doctor) kept commenting on how calm I was. I think my head was on the end result, learning to eat better and being thin again. I think if you follow the doctors instructions to a tee, then you reduce the complications, which is what I did. I was sleeved 02/11/13 and started back at work today. I could have gone back on Friday, but decided to take it off since Monday was a holiday for me. =) I got on the treadmill today and was able to do half the workout that I normally do. Besides following the doctors instructions, don't push yourself beyond your body's limits and I think all will turn out well.

I was sleeved on 02/11/13. Today was my first day back at work and I immediately went down to the gym and got on the treadmill. I only did a half mile because my belly started feeling uncomfortable. I think it depends on how your healing goes. At my follow up appointment, my doctor told me I'm already ahead of what the normal schedule is for doing things. I asked him at the hospital when I could start working out again and he told me when I felt ready to do it. I just know that if I don't try, even if it's for a short amount of time, I will easily fall out of the habit of going to the gym.

My only suggestion is to follow your doctors instructions. I don't seem to have the issues that a lot of people have that I've read about on here, but everyone is different. I was 262 going into surgery and am 250 today. My only problem is not being able to truly tell if I'm full, so I just follow the diet I was given very strictly. My worst fear (as is probably a lot of people that have this surgery) is getting back to the place I started this journey, which isn't very healthy. This surgery, to me, is only just a push in the right direction for me to live a healthier and thinner lifestyle. Good luck! I think you are already on the right path!

I was sleeved on the 11th. I asked my doctor when I could start excersing again. He told me as soon as I feel comfortable doing it. The only restriction I was given was not to lift anything over 10 pounds for the first 2 weeks. I've had a ton of energy since trying to go to sleep last night and decided to try using my elliptical today. I only did 6 minutes because I could feel some strain in my abdomen and didn't want to over do it. For me, I just don't want to get out of the habit of excersing, which is really easy for me to do.

I was told years ago to do cardio to get your heart rate up and body warmed up for strength training, but I guess times have changed. Here's a link with advice on which way to go. http://exercise.about.com/od/weightloss/f/cardiostrength.htm

Ok, so I'm starting to think that the scale is lying to me. I just had surgery 02/11/13 and can't believe how much my weight has gone down. I was 262 on the day of surgery and have lost 12 pounds since. I have been following the post-op diet very strictly. I have my follow up appointment on Monday, but am wondering if it is normal to lose this much so fast.

I'm actually feeling good. I feel like I have more energy than before.

I have not had any pain, but I don't have a drain like most people on here. I do have some discomfort in my lower abdmomin, which kind of remind me of hunger pains. I also have tons of the "stomach gurgling", but I'm not concerned about that. I am also concerned about not being able to tell when I am full so I'm following the diet very strictly. For me, I guess as long as I don't feel like I am starving, then I'm probably doing ok, especially since I'm just on the full liquid diet part of this process.

I didn't bring anything, but of course I was misled and told I would be going home the same day. If I had known I wouldn't be going home, I might have brought my laptop, but I probably wouldn't have used it much because I slept most of the time in the hospital. The only time I even watched TV was the during the time they were getting my discharge papers ready for me to leave. They provided me with extra pillows to keep me comfortable while sleeping.

I hit my first wall during the third month of my pre-op nutritionist visits, but that was because I stopped following the rules. I lost 8 pounds on the pre-op diet, started one week before surgery. As of yesterday, I was down another 5 pounds. I'm hoping that as I add more foods to my diet, that I will continue to lose.

OMG! Did someone say Five Guys hamburger? Had surgery on Monday and I'm so craving that kind of food. My last day of the clear liquid diet was hard because I felt like my body wanted something more. Today I started the all liquid diet and despite the cravings, I'm just glad to be able to eat soup again.

I really liked the Atkins shakes, but they don't have enough protein in them. I've also done Ensure and Pure Protein. Both are good, or at least as good as it's going to get. LOL

I wasn't scheduled for any pre-op appointments until my insurance approved the surgery. After I got approval, I had to have an EKG to make sure my heart can handle surgery, blood work, and an upper endoscopy. It's frustrating to have to go to all these appointments, but I think it's good because if they find any problems that you are unaware of, you can get it treated right away.

I got mine in the hospital, but honestly have not used it.