Geri Marie

The fist few days are rough!! I went through it with my Lap band, which I will be getting out on the 16th. I found the clear liquid was the worst. But I am so excited to go through this with the sleeve!! I feel blessed that my insurance will cover it. Tomorrow I go to the physc doctor. You ladies can do it!! It's hard at first but the end result will be so exciting!!

Wholly cow! Clearly I would have dropped that dr too! That is my fear. I dont want to use the patches and then start loosing hair or feeling bad because I "Thought" i was getting my nutrients and wasn't. That's why I asked. I just have read a ton of bad stuff about the ingredients on the "gummy" vitamins and want a good option. Sometimes a to good to be true solution is just that....

Good luck! I'm sure it will help. They took all the fluid out of my band so it gave me free reign to eat whatever again and oh boy that was a mistake. I hope your reset works! You can do it.

In 2010 I had the Lap band surgery. I was 298 and got down to 212 and then boom. I stopped. I was actually happy with myself, and didnt find it a concern. Now...I started having issues with the band. Heartburn, chest pains, and ultimately decided to have it removed. So next week on the 16th I am having the band removed and on November 13th I am going to undergo the sleeve surgery. I'm so unmotivated though right now. I have gotten myself two brand new bags of bariatric advantage protein and am trying to stick with two shakes and one good meal. But I am stuck home due to a recent spinal surgery and its so darn hard to not graze all day. SMH I ordered a few books about the sleeve and bariatric journey so hope that will kick my motivational butt in gear. Any suggestions?

@kedasmom I am getting ready to have my band out on the 16th and then sleeve on november 13th. PLEASE keep me informed on how your doing!! I am nervous about the same. Thanks!!

Omg I can relate to your problem. I have underwent two spinal fusion surgeries and when I say the word Oxycodone people gasp and look at me like I'm an addict. Truth be known my mother passed away because she was diabetic and addicted to Darvon (which has been related to liver disease) and she passed away at 63 from liver failure. So needless to say I am so paranoid to A. Become addicted to these pills B. Develop liver failure. I too have been concerned about once my sleeve surgery has been completed I wont be able to absorb the proper amount of medication. I know liquid is available, but not sure about the absorption issue. I am personally going to discuss this with my Bariatric surgeon first. Then my neurologist. I liked the idea someone here had about the patches. They do work, I have heard anyway. I tried a CBD topical patch with hemp oil and it did work, but still need the help of the oxys. My point is that the patch does absorb. Anyway I'd love to hear what does eventually work for you as I too will be in that boat soon enough.

Belle, What an accomplishment you have been through! I am not there yet, but I am going to give you my two cents worth....here goes. You are almost there! Yes I'm sure you dont look quite like you want to right now, but you are so darn close!! Just look at it as another stepping stone. You lost 290 lbs!! I mean ROCK STAR!! Now you just need to get the finishing touches, thats all! Just wear clothes that make you feel comfortable right now, but know that you are so darn close!! I hope my pep/rant helped somewhat! I mean if you can loose 290, you GOT THIS!!! #seethelightattheendofthetunnel

Yes! That's what my Dr said too. We don't have a pool but are looking into getting one. Good luck on your journey! Sent from my SM-G935P using BariatricPal mobile app

Great Advise and your look great!!I am having my band removed on the 16th then gastric sleeve in November. I'm pretty excited to use this new tool . I just had a spinal fusion surgery and I was glad to hear that you used walking as your exercise to get to your goal weight because thats about all I can do. Anyway again congrats!

Will do! Thanks for the advise. I will look it up at Amazon.

I started the yellow brick road to my approval and booked all these appointments. It's pretty overwhelming. It doesn't help that my husband thinks its all a money scam. I have 6 appointments in this month, which i think is the worst of it. I just hope I can loose some weight beforehand. My willpower is at an all time low. Any suggestions on a good motivational book to read? Thanks in advance......

It has been a process but my neurologist is great. And I can def. Tell a difference. So glad I did it. Which is why I want to get the sleeve so o can enjoy it. I know losing 100 Lbs will help my overall health. Sent from my SM-G935P using BariatricPal mobile app

I am working with Dr. Bass here in Florida, and I have had no issues.....Also have had two spinal fusion surgery IN Florida....no issues.

LOL Joei!! I told him already to get on board or get out of my way lol. Let's see how he likes abstinence hehehehe

AAAAAMazing!! I just wanted to chime in here and tell you what an inspiration you are!! I mean seriously I'm here with eyes full of tears at your story! You have inspired me and many I'm sure with your story! I think we all feel that way to an extent. Our love layers kept us unnoticed and in the corner. Us POW's (people of weight) are used to being hidden and taking that outer layer off and coming out to the world is scary. The great part is how we feel....health wise so much better!! A great sense of accomplishment. Commit and stick to the plan!!! Way to go! I'm fired up for my Up coming surgery and can't wait to share before and after pics!

Take a deep breath! You will do great. Ive had the lap band and I am going to get it removed and go with the Sleeve. My PCP said this surgery is as common as a gallbladder or any other laparoscopic surgery. I will tell you once your Hiatal hernia is fixed you will want to bow down and worship your surgeon! The relief from heartburn is instant!! It changed my life! Mine was so bad that I got heartburn from water! Anyway good luck, you'll do great!! I get my band out on the 16th so think of me then!! Btw I'm in FL too! Naples area here.

Thank smb123! I really appreciate that. The app is for either samsung or iPhone I have it on my iPad and my edge7. They sync to all your devices. As for my hubby, he will have to come around because I'm doing it either way lol. I'm 46 and too old to be told what to do! Plus I told him with this new back surgery and it fixing my spine I want to take care of my body and be mobile so I can go on walk around vacations and activites. We've been together for 15 years so he knows I'm right lol . I want to join a local group but the last time I had the lap band there were no local support groups. I have been on a few different bariatric sites and this one is great. People actually respond here! Any who thanks again for the support!

Also, wanted to mention I started using this really helpful app called Fat Secret. It tracks your calorie intake, carbs, sugar and fat. It also has a goal weight section, and an activity area (if your into that kinda thing) I love it. Ive actually used that same app for 7 years. It helps for when you go to your nutrition visits to recall your diet. It will really come in handy when we have the surgery to tract our protein

I am stuck here at home due to recent back surgery so it is nice to come on here and tak with people like me feeling th same as I do! I can NOT wait to get this new surgery done. I have been reading everyone's stories and I love it. Makes me feel normal! My sister was going to get the sleeve as well but she backed out. My husband doesn't want me to get it done mainly because hes worried about cutting my body. I told him your either with me or against me lol. I'm sure he will come around. I have three months to prepare him. He's been great with everything else Ive been through so I dont doubt he will get n the skinny train too! Haha that seems funny saying skinny and me in the same sentence.

Try Bariatric advantage, it is expensive, I agree but I always look at it as how much per "meal" does it cost. I have fun with the mixology of it. I make my own, use the bariatric advantage with unsweetened almond milk (Low fat high calcium ) and then i mix. Today I made a mango vanilla with frozen mango. I order Davinci No calorie syrups to make great flavors. I also us PB2 its a dry peanut butter low fat lower calorie. I make a Strawberry and PB2 with vanilla and it takes like a PB&J. Also chocolate protein and coconut milk takes like an almond joy;). Have fun with it like you would making dinner. One last thing, add stevia to sweeten to taste.. That helps too

joeibaby- With the band you physically cannot eat certain things because no matter how much you chew it won't go past the band. I don't regret getting it, but if I knew then what I know now, I would have went for the sleeve first. I never really got the "full" feeling from the band. throwing up became a common thing to me because I'd eat too fast or too much. I couldn't even eat salad because the lettuce wouldn't go down right. I didnt have any complications, just couldn't get the hang of it. On Mother's Day, I started having chest pains and thought I was having a heart attack. Im 46 and people die all the time at my age and my weight from that. After two hospital emergency room visits I find out its my band causing all these issues. I'm currently stuck at home due to a recent spinal fusion surgery so I can't exercise(not that i was big into that anyway) so for now I'm finishing all my "Bad food" in the house and will switch over to the protein shakes and one meal. I do enjoy them and half of this process is wrapping your mind around the fact that it is a life style change. You have to let go of the quantity of food and go for quality of food. I might be a "Newbie" here, but trust me Ive been battling this for 8 years. Time to go with the sleeve. I feel like the fact that it will shrink my stomach, and take the hunger feeling away, I can focus on other stuff in my life and get healthy.

I agree with melunruh you know what you need to do! Take this new move and new job and make it a whole new process! I had the lap band 8 years ago and had lost 80 lbs. I was down to 202. My job and location changed and I didnt have those people in my life that knew my journey so I wasn't getting the encouragement I was before. I started gaining weight and now I'm back to 252 and going to have the band removed and get the sleeve. The modivation has to come from you. Do you want to be healthy and feel good? Plan your meals, and track it. I use the fat secret app. It is easy and quick to track. My plan is 2 protein shakes and a chewy meal, but you do you girl!! You got this!

I am going through the same. I go to my first "Class" on the 24th of this month. My planner told me as long as I dont gain any weight from this point forward, my insurance will approve me. I have to go to a class a month, a nutritionist, and a mental health appointment. I hope loveing food doesn't make me mental! Lol. I had the lap band and have had a ton of issues so I'm going to commit to the permanent gastric sleeve. I even got a surgery date of November 13th since my PCP is confidant ill get an approval. Good luck with yours I can't wait to go through this journey with everyone!!

Bariatric advantage is a good one. Vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, banana and latte. Low carb and sugar high protein. I add one packet of stevia and use almond milk. I think it's pretty close to a milk shake. I mix flavors fruit and zero calorie syrups. So yummy. I made a chai tea flavored one this morning with vanilla protein. Sent from my SM-G935P using BariatricPal mobile app