MaryRN66

Not to be sneaky or anything, but weight belts under large sweatshirts can work wonders in getting your BMI up to Insurance-approving levels. Just saying...

Hi, folks. I got a lap band in 2014 and did well for a few years but the band "migrated" and I had to have it removed. Now I'm going in for gastric bypass 2/3. I am excited to get my body in a healthier place but I'm nervous about the massive changes I will have to learn to live well. The band simply wouldn't allow me to get most things I wanted to eat through. It was more of a surgical device for bulimia than a life-style change tbh. Can you folks who have gone through a band to traditional gastric bypass (not sleeve) surgery tell me what you found to be the MOST helpful tool to maximize your success? I need peeps who've been where I'm heading in 2 weeks.

You will do great! This bypass is the best thing I've done for myself and I am already at a lower weight (by over 10 lbs) than I achieved with the band many years before over a much longer period of time. One thing I learned is you have to get the right multi-vitamin. I originally bought a MVM from this site and though it was touted to be the bomb, my labs came back veeeeerrrrry low on iron. The MVM I bought originally did not have near what my dietician said we need. She recommended Celebrate One 45 multi and I started taking and my followup blood labs are stop on! My body is transforming into a body I haven't had most of my adult life and thanks to light workouts each day (15 -20 minutes) I am not getting the "melted wax" look that so many of us significantly overweight women get after bypass and weight loss. My doctor said it's due to sticking with good hydration in addition to working out so my skin stays healthy by being hydrated and can suck in as I slowly lose the weight. I am very excited for you. Please check in from time to time. Blessings, Mary

The bypass went really well. Less pain than I experienced with the band procedure (weird, I know!) and the weight is coming off at a steady pace. Gotta keep myself in check and not get comfortable and start snacking on the wrong foods or thinking I'm home free. The one big plus...being able to eat FRUIT again! With the band, it never seemed to pass through and I love fruits! I need to increase my veggie intake to be the majority of my meals and summer time being so hot this year, I haven't been cooking the veggies in the oven to keep the house cool. But once it starts to cool down, I intent to go in on baking and air frying a whole bunch of fresh veggies. My surgery was 2/3/22 and I have lost 46 pounds thus far and well on my way to my goal weight. I'm drinking 64-96 ounces of water with crystal light lemonade (yummy) every day and this has been a HUGE help in keeping my appetite in check. I also stop eating by about 5 pm most nights which also has helped. I'm working out with water aerobics and calistenics at home so my body doesn't look like melted wax at the end of my body transformation. The surgery was the easy part though it was the part I was most fearful about. I have a life to live and plans to enjoy my getting older years with my amazing husband. I hope the same for you!

This process is a bit daunting. I had RNY surgery 2/3 so it's been 4 days. I am losing weight but am afraid to eat much or anything. My tummy is sore but tolerable. I'm trying to get in my protein via the Premier Protein 30g protein per shake deal but it's less than yummy, tbh. I am walking and expect to return to work on Wednesday (mostly desk job, no lifting). I am trying to learn my "new body's" way of telling me I'm hungry. Anyone else going through this struggle?

I wasn't hungry until this afternoon (POD3) and I felt like I could eat anything put in front of me. I wound up slowly chewing 3 teaspoons of chili and then drank my water allotment. I know I wasn't supposed to do ground foods yet but all of a sudden, I was ravenous. Anyone else feel this way?

I had my surgery 2/3 and was released from hospital 2/4. My incisions don't really hurt, just sore. When I had my lap band removed in 10/2021, they must have really yanked on the liver to retract it during surgery because that hurt REALLY BADLY for 3 weeks. Compared to that, this is a non-carb cake walk. I am electing to stay on clear liquids until tomorrow or Monday as I'm not hungry and I don't want to screw the pouch up with too much too soon. I feel really good and Praise Jesus, no complications from the surgery. Now it's time to begin my new relationship with food. No longer will it be my confidant and comforter, but simply my nutrition to keep my body healthy and free of junk. Drinking Smooth Moves hot tea to get my bowels moving after surgery. I've always struggled with constipation and I'm hopeful this will keep me regular.

My RNY surgery is tomorrow morning (I have to be at hospital at 0530 for 0730 surgery date!). My Bariatric Surgeon was supposed to do the whole shabang - remove lap band and revise to RNY - in October, 2021 but he only took out the band. He said it was "safer" this way but I was super disappointed. Now I'm just hoping it all goes according to plan tomorrow. Please send prayers for those who pray. This is a game changer for me.

Thanks to my fellow WLS pals for responding. I have been getting more prepared for surgery (in FIVE DAYS!) and have what I need for the first several weeks at home and ready to go. I am not as afraid of post-surgery pain as I am about having a pretty big surgery at 55 y/o. I know that's not crazy old but it's not 20's or 30's anymore either. I am praying to put it all in God's Hands and Trust in Him.

I am getting RNY on 2/3/2022 in Denver CO. I had lap band in 2014 and worked for a few years but it was causing problems so had it removed in October, 2021 and now getting ready for this revision. I am anxious but nervous that I won't know what to eat, not eat and how fast/slow - I've been so distracted lately. I need to re-read my surgery handbook...

I'm a little anxious about the upcoming surgery. Are you having to do the liver shrinking diet?

Thank you!! I will get the digital scale and download the tracker app on my phone. I'm a little nervous about the surgery but I am excited about getting back on track with my health.

It's been almost 9 months since my lap band surgery. Lots of GREAT days, a handful of what I like to call "learning experiences". I have learned which foods go down and which foods, even when I chew them into liquid (Pallisade Peaches - absolutely delicious) just won't pass through. I've gotten better at respecting that muscle burns fat and you need more muscle while you're losing weight if you want to KEEP losing weight. I've learned that sizes and numbers don't make me happy but a 'come hither look' from across a room from my husband of 29 years DOES make me swoon!!! And I've learned that this is a life long journey and there is no prize for who makes it to the finish line (goal weight) the fastest - as long as we're all running in the right direction, it will happen. Thank you to this board for helping me remember why I went through with this surgery and to keep me motivated to stay on course and take care of myself. What an amazing life this is, huh? Especially now that I have lost more weight (45 lbs) than I have to lose to get to goal (44 lbs)!

THREE POUNDS TO GO??!!! Again, not so much about the numbers but I am imagining that you have learned a lot about yourself and your relationship with food over the last several years on the this journey. I know I HAVE and it's only been 9 months! Don't you wish we did this 20 years ago???? Or for me, 30 years ago!

That is AWESOME!!! I am also 4 months post-band surgery and I am LOVING this help and sorta wishing I'd have done this many years ago. I am wearing a pair of pants today that I had to STRUGGLE to get into just a few months ago. AND I don't have the muffin top thing going on anymore over these pants! I am starting to see the 'healthy' me slowly emerging from this adipose cocoon and I am ready to emerge as a transformed ME! ;-D Let's keep on KEEPING ON! Mary

I got my third fill on Tuesday and as soon as I took the sip of Water, I could FEEL it! Restriction - glorious restriction! I had not felt that before unless I ate something starchy/bread. After fill, was not hungry the rest of the day. Yesterday, ate a small amount for Breakfast, not hungry until dinner and then very satisfied with a small amount. This morning, the scale finally MOVED down - 5 lbs from where I was the previous weigh (and i admit that's been several weeks as feeling down that I was so hungry after all of the surgery costs and discomfort, etc). Now I feel I am IN THE GAME and I am so excited to know THIS is what it is supposed to feel like! I don't feel hungry! I feel full after a few small bites of Protein dense food. I am not ravenous and dreaming about junk food anymore. I AM HAPPY!!!!! I wanted to share this with the rest of the community. I haven't been posting - I felt like I might be one of the folks for which this tool just doesn't change the underlying, overwhelming appetite issues I have had all of my life. But it IS changing that and I feel so hopeful - it's been so long since I've felt this way. :-))))))))))) Mary

I am feeling GREAT! My appetite is pretty chill over all - and even when I do get hungry I only am able to tolerate a few bites of something - slowly - before I am done. I canceled my fill date today as I feel like I'm doing the GREEN so opted to walk through the park with my sheltie and enjoy my LIFE!!! ;-D Mary

Thank you, everyone for your replies! I am SO EXCITED to finally be here with you all!!! I was praying this band would make a difference in my life and now I know it will. I am over the moon. ;-D Mary

I had my lap band surgery 6 weeks ago and lost 18 pounds so far - YAY! However, I am still struggling with eating more slowly and, yes, I've had episodes of PB (ewwww) but I've been gulping my food all my life and I'm struggling with this very important part of my new life post-lapband. I welcome all suggestions and stories on how others have learned how to slow down their eating so I can be successful long-term with my own. Thanks all! Mary

Since having lap band surgery about 6 weeks ago, I've noticed that if I drink my Protein shakes or tea or really anything, I have to burp but it sometimes comes out like a MAN BURP! Seriously!! LOL!! I don't think I've EVER had this type of burping before and I'm a little scared to be around people after I eat because I might sound like a big, hairy old man! OK - it's a little funny but please tell me this is not completely just a ME thing! Mary P.S. Where ELSE could I pose a question like this other than HERE!!!

Thank you for ALL of your replies! I LOVE THIS BOARD!!!! And now, whenever I am eating, I am hearing The Professors words: "Chew, chew, chew, chew, chew, chew, chew ... until it's a paste. ONLY THEN, SWALLOW." - best advice I ever got! :-D Mary

Saw my surgeon a few days ago and he was very happy with my progress. Did the fill (didn't hurt AT ALL!!!) and I don't really notice much of a difference at all...boo hoo! He said usually takes 3-4 fills before a patient hits the "green zone" so now I'm counting the days to my second fill on 1/14. Wish they could do them once a WEEK versus once a month. So, here's the question: How many fills did it take YOU to get to GREEN??? Thanks, everyone and Merry Almost-Christmas! Mary

Ldimples, I am sorry for this very difficult news - especially at a time of year where people are generally celebrating the holidays, etc. Getting this type of news is devastating and whatever you are feeling I want you to know it is OK. Normal reactions to an abnormal situation. This is what I do for a living - I am a RN who sees patients in hospitals who have recently gotten a diagnosis that is scary and fills folks with fear and anxiety. One of the things I want you to HEAR is that the treatments for breast cancers today are MUCH more effective and more tolerable overall. All of those donations to the Susan B. Komen foundation and others like it have advanced treatment options and effectiveness exponentially! This means HOPE. Great hope. I would suggest that you allow yourself some room to feel whatever you are feeling and take time to allow others to help you while you get past the initial shock of this diagnosis. This is not easy for many of us but it is important, not just for you, but for those who love you to feel that they are helping in a situation that makes many people feel that they are helpless. Please know my prayers are with you and that you have many on this forum who will be here for you while you overcome the next steps which will bring you back to health. Prayers and blessings, Mary

If you haven't been in the GREEN and you lost 100 lbs in 7 months - OMG JWM!!!! LOLOL! Mary

I have to say, I'm a bit nervous about my first fill. I see my surgeon on Wednesday afternoon and I'm hoping he fills it a fair amount as I have been getting hungry lately. I've lost 14 pounds since the surgery 3 weeks ago but am a LONG way from home, baby! LOL! I'm not worried about them injecting the saline into the port, but I am concerned that if it's not enough I'll have to wait another month (I think??) before I can get another fill. What do you long-time bandits have to say?? Thanks, all!