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Well friends....I took off for 8 days a total of 10 with the weekend in there. I felt AWESOME after surgery! I was up and out and driving to pick my hubby up from his surgery a couple days later. BUT...after that I crashed. I was so tired, and achy a few days later that by the time I had to go back to work I wished I had take the extra time and took the full two weeks. That's me though, everyone is different. I work long hours, at a desk job sitting butted up against my desk was not optimal for me as it hit right at the level of my incision, and the seat belt same thing and I drive about 60 miles a day. So the first couple of days back were exhausting, but I made it through and every day was better and better. Take care of yourselves while your home. Extra extra TLC, so your ready to go back to work and be realistic with yourself when you go back. Take it slow if you need to stop and rest do it. If you have to go home half the day cause your not feeling great take it. Soon your gonna be feeling great, but give it time after all you just had Major life altering surgery. Best of luck to you all!

I Got my last fill 12/09/11 7 cc total in my 10 cc band going on a cruise in couple of days Happy Holidays

Hi, Debbie. You and I have a lot in common! I had RNY surgery 10/2009 and for the first time have gained 11 pounds. My hubby and I started at the YMCA but I am still a stress eater. Have you increased your exercise or lowered your calorie intake? I am pulling for us both to succeed at this. Katie

Yesterday: Bfast= 1 scrambled egg, one slice of bacon I made twice this much and had to refrigerate the rest. Lunch= Some almonds, 3 slices of deli meat Snack= one apple in the morning and some beef Jerky in the afternoon. Dinner= Green Chili Stew/pork 6 ozs, over a burger. I'm surprised I ate the whole thing? Today Bfast= 1 fried egg, smothered in 4 ozs of green chili stew and pork. Snack= 1 pear Lunch= 2 slices deli meat, 4 shrimp w/cocktail sauce. Dinner=Leftover Filet Mignon 3 ozs(all I could eat), spinach and veggie salad w/olive oil, balsamic vinegerette, some crumbled feta cheese, Dessert= 1 Dove dark choc passion bit. tmf Ditto on no processed crap! I also spent an hour on my bike going 10 miles today and also did 20 minutes of strength conditioning this morning. Similar day yesterday.

You can definitely drink G2. I'm 10 weeks post op and continue drinking it throughout the day along with protein shakes and water. It all depends how my day is going. I also drink the powerade zero.

I'm not offended. That's not my point. It's nice that you are happily surprised. I was as well. That first weight loss just needs to be taken with a large grain of salt. My 2 wk f/u showed a weight loss of 26lbs. I was over the moon! However my 6 week appt I loss was 6lbs. Big difference. After that I settled in to losing between 10 - 12 lbs a month. Your body will find its own rhythm. A big weight loss out the gate means as much as a small one. Even no weight loss or even a gain at that 2 week appt. isn't a predictor of anything.

Long story short. Had surgery about 4 years ago, lost almost 100 pounds in the first year. Then I broke my leg and had emergency surgery, 10 screws and a 6 inch steel plate later I sat around for 4 months and put on half the weight. I was laid off, and then my surgeon moved his practice away from Dallas. A year ago I moved back to Omaha when my dad had a stroke. Finally got my medical records, insurance and can get a fill, which is supposed to be next week. I feel like I am starting over, I am not even sure how many days to have fluids and then transition. I am not sure how many CC's are evn in my band. I dont have much restriction unless its a chunk of bread. Where do I start? Thanks in advance.

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I thought this would be a good idea! I already keep a journal, just for myself. But maybe this would be informative for someone else. I am 41 yrs old, housewife, mother, massage therapist. I have been on the weight roller coaster for many years now, ever since I got married at age 21, which will be 19 years this July! I gain, I lose, I gain back...usually more than I lost, but not always. Over the years my "top weight" had gradually increased. Eventually I went up to 260. I was miserable. I wanted to go to massage school. I worked hard again, and dropped 65 lbs by the time school started(thanks to Quick Weight Loss Center). I maintained well through school, being busy helps! But during my internship, which was spotty as far as time, I started gaining again. By the time I had my license and was out working, I had gained 30 lbs! I was barely hanging on until I got very sick. I got walking pnuemonia, which set me back. I also gained a lot of weight. Then I was in a car accident, hurt my leg real bad. More set backs, more weight. Got sick again with the pneumonia and several bouts of bronchitis. More weight, less motivation, less physical strenth. It went up from there, finally topping out at my most recent highest ever-- 293.5!! . So then I had the mentality of "Why fight the battle when I am going to lose the war? What incintive do I have?" Just get used to being fat, and eat what you want. Why bother? Ok, fine... but.. being at that weight was ruining my life. I was only operating at 50%. I did not have the energy or motivation to go out and find work (self-employed). This hurt my relationship with my DH. He wants me to work and bring in $$, especially after all the $$ I spent in school and CEU courses afterwards (I had 52 CEU hours in my first year of license, I was a real go getter at first, before I gained the weight). I also had several other things be affected... my sex life (almost non-existant), I could not run and play with kids, I was too embarassed to go swimming with the family and would sit out. I used to ride horses all the time, my life passion! Nothing occupied my mind more over the many many years more than horses! Now I was too fat to ride. I would have to ride a draft horse! Even when I did ride a horse that could handle my weight, I felt too unbalanced, unsafe. If the horse was to take a quick turn, being spooked or something, I would come off, hit the ground HARD! I ride on streets. Asphalt is NOT forgiving! I stopped riding when I was about 260. I wound up driving miniature horses. They can pull me in a cart just fine down the street! So I have been doing that for a couple years now. However, if there was to ever be an emergency, and I needed to hop out of the cart... good luck with that! My weight prohibits me to act fast and quickly, safely. So I got scared about that, and eventually quit driving as well. And of course, there is the usual depression. I started hating myself, hating any skinny woman I saw, hating that even at Walmart I was having trouble finding the size I needed.. XXX. I had to go to specialty stores. Myfeet gave me major problems, which lamed me up more. At one time I was borderline diabetic, according to my doc. I started to explore differnt ways to get rid of this weight more permanetly. I came across the LAP-BAND®®®®. I ray of hope entered my life! Could this be the magic bullet? I have used tools in the past to lose weight, like the Metabolife, Weight Watchers, QWLC, etc. The support and help I got from these really helped! I needed soemthing like that again, but something stronger, something that would stay with me always. A constant motivator. The Band seems to be it. I had to give it a try. The big things that were holding me back to get it was money, and pursuading DH to let me get surgery. He is very protective of me and highly values me. Dosn't want to lose me to some complication and be left raising my now 2 kids alone. My insurance would not pay for it. I dropped that insurance and got another that the sales guy told me they would do it. I let almost a year go by, and then I tried to do it. They would not, he lied to me! Luckily I had gotten some inheritance from my grandmother this past year. Now was my chance! I decided I could pay cash for half, and Care Credit the other half. Now DH had to be convinced. By this point, he realized I am so affected by the weight, something has to be done, so he finally agreed after I educated myself and him about the whole thing, and the risks. I met once again with True Results (I I talked with them a year ago when I was first intersted). On the scale I was 293.5. I commited to doing it. I came in for the pre-op talk with the surgeon. I had already dropped about 10 lbs, because I was now determined I was going to do this one last time, and was eating better. He told me about the pre-op diet. I had 3 weeks before surgery. I was very faithful to the diet and had no regrets or strayed from it. Once I set my mind on something I want, I go get it! I just had to mentally prepare myself for this battle and war, once again, hopefully for the final time. Itwas working! Ilost a total of 30 lbs by surgry day.. April 14th 2010. I was already feeling better and stronger. I started working out again at Curves (I had a membership that I had carried for a year without going!!) Then the big day arrived! I did not think I was nervous. but apparently I was. That morning I felt shaky, and a bit light headed, some nauseousness. I thought I was sick, and would not be able to go! But then I figured out it was nerves! I settled down a few hours later. I took the kids to school, came back, and showered with the special soap they required. I was there by 9:30am. The hardest part was not drinking! My mouth was very dry. I would take baby sips of water, just enough to wet my mouth. I filled out papers, gave a pee sample (to prove I was not pregnant), got the IV in, the Heprin shot, the wonderful gown on, all that. Then I said goodbye to DH. I woke up in the recovery room. Very woozy, and sore. They had me get up and get my clothes on, quite a chore! Then they got me inot the xray room and swallow barium. The xray showed that the band was too tight, nothing going through! So I had to lie on a table while they pushed around on me (OUCH!) to find the port. Then I guess they took some out. Did the barium again, now it was fine. They finally got me into the car on to the house, DH driving. I was quite sick at my tummy by then, and dry heaved a few times (ouch!). I could not drink anything. DH called the nurse and they called in a prescription for a supository. He also got the liquid Vicodin. The Vicodin would not stay down. I just had to deal with the pain until the next day. I eventually felt better by nightfall. I just went to sleep. It wasn't the best night sleep, but it worked. Next morning I felt Ok for drinking something. I had a protiend shake, and some broth. Then I took some pain meds. They stayed down, but did not do any good. Call the nurse! She said to take liquid Motrin in between doses of Vicodin. Eventually that worked, by nightfall, the pain was getting less. I forced myself to walk around the house off and on. I took the Gas X. Next day I was walking around outside in the yard. Next day down the street to the stop sign and back, a couple of times! I was still quite sore. Rolling over at night in bed was painful too. I could only sleep on my right side for a while. Then I could tolerate my back. Now I am about to be able to sleep on my left, but it still pinches and hurts sometimes. Getting up from achair or bed was very painful too for a while. Now it is no big deal, just some minor pain (I am 8 days post-op today). My shouldr has started to hurt again. So that bugs me. Today though, has been my most painfree day! But 2 days ago, it was a bad day! I was hurrying out the door to take kids to school, now that I could drive again. I must have drunk my smoothie too fast, something. I got on the road and felt nauseous, weak, yucky. I started thinking about the surgery. Thinking about the pain i was experincing, and how I was stuck with this thing inside me, unless I got another operation. I do not know if I somehow psyched myself into feling like this, or what. I tried to think of other things. After dropping the kids off, I hurried home (2o minute drive). the feelings of sickness got worse! I really thought I would have to pull over and either puke or call for help. I was really scared. I did not know what was going on!:sad: It was a real mental battle for me to get home OK. Then I ran to the bathroom. I never threw up, but I did have loose bowels. I took a supository and went to bed. Two hours later I was OK. I was weak, but not sick at my stomach. I took it easy the rest of that day and the next. I was worried the next day if I would start feeling like that again. I did not drink a smoothie before leaving. I just took water with me. I was OK, just drained. Now today I feel great!:wink2: Better than ever! I also got to start soft foods, like soup, and yogurt smoothies! That has also helped the stomach rumblings I sometimes have, hunger pains! I was not really hungry, but my stomach said it was ! That feeling of your stomach turning in on itself, growling, squiching around! Not fun! Anyway, I am glad I have done this, so far. It has been a bit more of a recovery than I was thinking it would be, unexpected pain, soreness, etc. But I have been assured by many that this too... will pass... and be a memory. So I hold onto that and continue to follow instructions closely and try to not over do anything. This is a good excuse to pamper myself and take the time I need to heal properly. Until next time my friend!!:smile2: ps.. my goal is 170!:wink2:

Eight months out, I am 55, post reduction (1996) and after nearly a 60 lbs loss, does "Giant Skin Tags" mean anything to you? LOL On the positive side, I am wearing clothes off the rack that fit this petite body either a 10 petite or 12, depending on style, I am off cholesterol, high blood pressure and antacid meds. I am more energetic most days, exercise 5 days a week and am still recovering from unexpected major neck surgery and wouldn't trade a couple boobs for the freedom and lifestyle I have. Give yourself a make over with hair, clothes and as those compliments come pouring at you the boob worry will be out of your mind. Of course there is always one asinine person who will come up to you and say, "where did your boobs go?" In fact this happened to me just yesterday, of course it was an acquaintance with a huge bust. I prefer to be remembered for my smile and kind words than my boobs.

They found mine during my testing for lb too. My surgeon wouldn't even consider doing them at the same time although I wished at the time he would bc my ins won't pay for LB but they did for Gb. Of course better safe. I had my GB out on 6/29 and my LB is Fri 8/10. I got my energy back about 8 days post op but felt like it was a breeze. Hope I do so well with the LB! Pennie

On December 31st at 10 am I underwent weight loss surgery. This is something that had been weighing on my mind for about 3 years and I finally took a leap of faith and jumped. My first day was very pain filled but luckily I had some great nurses. Day two was a little better and I walked at least every two hours so the soreness and gas pains really started easing up. That evening my doctor visited me and said he didn't see why I couldn't go home. It was so nice to be able to sleep in a bed that wasn't in a hospital. Day three my soreness was a lot better and now here we are on day 4. I actually have eased up on my pain meds and took a small walk outside down the sidewalk. The fresh air was amazing. I'm still stirring up gas when I drink but I'm hoping that will pass with time.. I also weighed my self on the scale and it said I've already lost 10 pounds!!

Have You Ever Had a Situation in Your Life When You Wanted To Do Something But, People Try To Make You Think Their Way is Correct; buy a home, get a new career, leave your husband or wife, go back to school, loose weight their way,start your own career, buy a car, Spend your money, have a child, think your bosses way is correct, when he or she is not or what ever it is!! And people can't figure out why you won't listen!! John 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:05 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice. Love You!! Happy Thursday!!

I am having some of the same issues as the other posters. The first 80 pounds flew off with hardly any help from me. I was losing extremely fast. Then since November 07, I have only lost 27 pounds. I also see the same thing on my scale as far as being low one day and then next time looking like I gain 10 pounds....the next few days are back down to the low number again. I cycle 130 miles a week, averaging 16-19 mph, so I am buring mega calories.... I have less than 30 pounds to go to reach my personal goal(less than 50 to reach doctors), and it just is hard. But, as long as I don't gain the weight back I guess I will take it. Good luck to you!!!

So I'm not off the rails by any means, but struggling to get even a few lbs off. I'm 2 yrs & 8 months post VSG. And 4 months post LBL. Up until my LBL I'd consistently maintained a 130 lbs weight loss. Maintaining that loss was not without effort. My diet in check, track everything I eat, exercise 6 days a week. Immediately after LBL I feel like a switch got flipped. My weight bounced around a bit with the expected weight loss with my skin removal (which was minor as it truly was just skin being removed) and then the expected gain with swelling and of course lack of activity while I recovered. Nothing that concerned me. But now I'm up 7 lbs and I can't seem to shake it. I've locked down my eating, increased my water intake, I've been back to previous amount of cardio for over two months, I'm keeping a tight control on sugar and carbs which is much harder these days, getting in all my protein and still the scale isn't moving. It's like my body is intent on holding onto the extra weight. What gives!!!! I feel like if my calorie intake goes above 1,000 a day, I gain weight which is crazy. I was able to maintain eating 1200-1400 a day before. I know it's just 7 lbs, but 7 becomes 10. And fear of returning to old habits and regaining weight is always top of mind with me. I'm sure I'm not alone. Hoping this is just part of the recovery.

I am barely a month out and have been having this feeling as well. I definitely don't feel like I have lost all hunger and have to "force" myself to eat. There are times during the day that I get extremely hungry. And then in the evening, around 8-10 as you have described, I definitely want to nibble. Bad bad bad habit

Ughhhhh I'm so tired of broth!!!! I really wish I could have a protein shake and I really don't like them but I want one just cause I can't have it...OMG 19 more days left of clear liquids and I don't think I'll make it!!!!! Helpppppppp!!!!!!!!

I love my pure protein bard, but they can be too much at once. Tried the met-rx minis today and i enjoyed it! BJ's whilesale club hasnthem for 14.99 for a.box of 24. 10 grams protein, 140 or less cal. Depending on the flavor. I think after surgery when I can eat solids these will be a good choice!

I'm guessing you did not gain 30 pounds of FAT in two weeks. I would reason to say that your body is probably holding on to extra water, or perhaps you weren't properly hydrated before and this would be your real weight at the right hydration. I could easily see a 5 or 10 gain, but 30? Do your clothes still fit?

I'm 10 week after surgery and having problems staying awake after eating dinner. I'm fine in the morning, and whatever I can eat for lunch mostly I'm still having protein drinks, but in the evening when I try to eat small bites of chicken, cheese etc I go to sleep. I'm NOT eating too much carbs under 10 to 20 a day and not high amounts of fat. Anyone else dealing with this? I also don't feel like eating most of the time. I'm running into having a bite or two of chicken or tuna and giving the rest to my dogs. I just can't eat the 2-4 ounces of it.

Date Printed: January 5, 2007: 10:48 PM Supplemental Letter for January 9, 2007 January 3, 2007 Dear Review Panel: Presented to you for review is my case for a gastric procedure known as a laproscopic banding procedure or "Lap-Band". In a lower review, BCBSFL did not dispute that I meet the criteria for the Lap-Band procedure. There is no dispute that I would benefit from weight loss surgery and there is no dispute that losing weight would be beneficial to my health. At issue is the coverage of this surgery and the exception I am requesting for this exclusion. Ironically, I received a phone call a few weeks ago from BCBSFL's new Diagnostics Program that offers support to wellness. Through this program, I gained beneficial information in the form of a booklet, catalog and DVD on the very weight loss surgery I am requesting. There is evidence in my medical records that I have tried for years multiple weight loss regimens and used pharmacotherapy for obesity under the supervision of my physician, Dr. Alan Sichelman. For my mental state, it is documented by my therapist, Jane Fenby, that I have a full understanding of what this procedure entails and that it will be a lifetime commitment on my part. There is no indication that I am unstable, misinformed with perceptions of unrealistic expectations; Rather so, that I have pursued this avenue under the direction of my primary care physician and other medical personnel, with cooperation, information and education; That I am laying the course for my surgical event and post surgical life by the compass of these individuals and their combined medical expertise demonstrates I am an individual who very much wishes to be healed. Unquestionably, I am ill and feel I am fighting for my life. As a result of my severe morbid obesity, I suffer from sleep apnea, diabetes, depression, back problems, joint pain, hypertension, migraines, Pictures will show my condition and the severity of my obesity. It is true that my life is endangered. This procedure will prevent the worsening of my condition, alleviate present harmful medical conditions and perhaps cure them. It is the conclusion of my physican(s) and myself that I am in need of this operation. Please authorize my surgery. Additional: As providers of health care coverage, Blue Cross and Blue Shield has historically authorized weight loss surgery. Currently, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina cut in half hospital re-admissions "by the twelve surgeons in North Carolina that are designated as centers of excellence for bariatric (obesity) surgery." Additionally, BCBSNC was one of the first insurers in the nation to officially recognize centers of excellence for bariatric surgery. Illinois also follows this model as well as South Dakota, Iowa, Michigan and several other states. In recent publications in the Tampa Bay area, BCBSFL appears to be using bariatric surgery denials as a financial decision rather than one in the best interest of patient care. I must express my concern that with sufficient evidence from their medical providers and informed decisions with which they move forward, it is very troubling that patient/physician decisions of health necessity are disrupted, ignored and denied, superceded by a focus on cost. It is hoped that Florida will soon follow the successful excellence practice as established by Blue Cross and Blue Shield in other states. Patricia Reeves

Well, after 10 or so months of thinking about surgery, I have decided that I am going to do it. I have spent many many hrs researching to learn as much as I could before I made a decision. I've spent 20 hrs or so on this site, reading about other peoples journeys and decided it's time that I join them. I am lucky, my family is extremely supportive and so is my man. I have no intentions of telling anyone else for the time being. I don't feel like it's anyone elses business. I have tried everything I know to try on my own: WW, Jenny Craig, Transformations, low carb, low calorie, low fat, no sugar, the cabbage soup diet, the liquid protein diet, the 6 week body makeover, apple cider vinegar diet, you get the idea. Do I lose weight on those diets? Sure I do but I can't keep it off. I excercise 5-6 days a week for an hour to an hour and a half at a time and manage to tone up some but no real weight loss. I don't eat fried food, cheese or many of the other things that I know are so bad for you like bacon. I eat more fruit in a week then most people I know do in a month. Bottom line....I'm tired of being fat. My highest weight ever was about 385 (several yrs ago), I lost down to about 325 (where I am now). I have managed to keep that 60 lbs off but every other pound I've lost since then have always put back on up to that 325 mark. For someone as overweight as I am, I am still a very active person, for example this last year I bought a house that needed some work as the yard was in horrible shape. During the summer of 07 I dug up and hauled off railroad ties that were suck in 4 ft of concrete, tore down a shed piece by piece, but up a new privay fence, crawled up on my roof and patched it, tore off an extension over the back porch, rented a jackhammer to bust up concrete, hauled off said concrete (about 6,000 lbs of it), laid a flat of sod (you get the idea), I'm not a lazy person but as I was doing all of these things I just kept thinking how much easier it would be if I didn't weigh 300+ pounds. So, I began weighing (no pun intended) my options and begin making a list of the pro's and con's as well as a list of goals. The pro's outnumberd the con's by 2 to 1 at least so I begin my research. I have decided I have nothing to lose. I go to my seminar at the surgery place on Feb 2nd and I am excited. Also a little scared but I know that's normal. This is going to be a huge change. I know other people have felt the same way and they have come through it okay but you never really know how they felt until you've been through it yourself. So...hang on, it's going to be a wild ride....:redface:

Well, after 10 or so months of thinking about surgery, I have decided that I am going to do it. I have spent many many hrs researching to learn as much as I could before I made a decision. I've spent 20 hrs or so on this site, reading about other peoples journeys and decided it's time that I join them. I am lucky, my family is extremely supportive and so is my man. I have no intentions of telling anyone else for the time being. I don't feel like it's anyone elses business. I have tried everything I know to try on my own: WW, Jenny Craig, Transformations, low carb, low calorie, low fat, no sugar, the cabbage soup diet, the liquid protein diet, the 6 week body makeover, apple cider vinegar diet, you get the idea. Do I lose weight on those diets? Sure I do but I can't keep it off. I excercise 5-6 days a week for an hour to an hour and a half at a time and manage to tone up some but no real weight loss. I don't eat fried food, cheese or many of the other things that I know are so bad for you like bacon. I eat more fruit in a week then most people I know do in a month. Bottom line....I'm tired of being fat. My highest weight ever was about 385 (several yrs ago), I lost down to about 325 (where I am now). I have managed to keep that 60 lbs off but every other pound I've lost since then have always put back on up to that 325 mark. For someone as overweight as I am, I am still a very active person, for example this last year I bought a house that needed some work as the yard was in horrible shape. During the summer of 07 I dug up and hauled off railroad ties that were suck in 4 ft of concrete, tore down a shed piece by piece, but up a new privay fence, crawled up on my roof and patched it, tore off an extension over the back porch, rented a jackhammer to bust up concrete, hauled off said concrete (about 6,000 lbs of it), laid a flat of sod (you get the idea), I'm not a lazy person but as I was doing all of these things I just kept thinking how much easier it would be if I didn't weigh 300+ pounds. So, I began weighing (no pun intended) my options and begin making a list of the pro's and con's as well as a list of goals. The pro's outnumberd the con's by 2 to 1 at least so I begin my research. I have decided I have nothing to lose. I go to my seminar at the surgery place on Feb 2nd and I am excited. Also a little scared but I know that's normal. This is going to be a huge change. I know other people have felt the same way and they have come through it okay but you never really know how they felt until you've been through it yourself. So...hang on, it's going to be a wild ride....