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OK so this is the same as what I posted in the My Story section of my profile...but I think its a good start for my first post! I have been overweight for a large portion of my life. I started getting heavy when I was about 11 years old. I always knew I was overweight and I tried to lose weight more times than I can count. I've done it all: Weight Watchers, NutriSystem, my own diets, exercise, weight-loss pills, fad diets...you name it. I've even been an athlete for a good part of my life. I played soccer for 11 years and softball for 7 years. No matter what I did, the weight didn't come off. Sure some of it did, 10..15..maybe 20 pounds when I stuck to a program...but once I started to see a drop in weight-loss, I dropped that program. And some of them just didn't work. Then, when I was 19, I just stopped trying. I decided I was happy and could live a happy life as an over-weight girl. I have plenty of friends who love me for who I am and don't ever judge me or make fun of me for my weight. I can't even remember the last time someone called me fat (probably because if you're over the age of 16 and use that insult, you are the one with no friends). So I started just doing what I wanted. Drinking on the weekends, eating fast food and unhealthy food...just not caring. But as the months went on and my friends and I started going out to bars and clubs more, I started feeling uncomfortable in my own skin. That was the low point. When you go out, and you're dressed up, hair and makeup done, but you still feel like you're not even half as attractive as the other people in the room is one of the worst feelings someone can experience. That's when I realized I had to do something. So I started looking into weight-loss surgery options. I was thinking about having the Lap Band or the Realize Band, I just thought they would be the best option for me. Dr. Ballem was the first and only doctor I met with. He asked if I had ever heard about the sleeve surgery. I hadn't. So I did my research, decided that it was the perfect fit for me, and that was the day I started this journey. My blog is going to be about my experiences on my journey to my goal weight along with my feelings, ideas, advice, food tips, and whatever else pops into my head. Enjoy!

When I have eaten too much, I feel pressure... like something is stuck in my throat. I can rarely consume more than 1 cup of anything at one time, but have had some bad snacking habits these past two years... little bites of food after 4 pm. The good news is... the Intermittent Fasting is WORKING !! I consider myself lucky to be a Faster with a gastric sleeve. Now I have two things to help me towards my goal of 160. So far, I am still on track. My retired neighbors are ULTRA disciplined, and do not eat a bite after 7 pm. They also avoid pork and sometimes beef; you'd think they were in training for a marathon. All I have to do to be considered a successful Intermittent Faster is avoid food for 12-16 hours. Some of the Fasters online stop eating at 7 pm, and then skip breakfast the next morning. Surely I can do this !!

Don't let your head drive you crazy....just keep going and finish the hoop games.....time is moving fast.

You don't owe anyone an explanation - do what is comfortable for you. Who cares what they think? And here is the thing, most people are very self centered... they may talk or whatever while you are losing weight fast, but don't add to the drama and they will forget. I have been at goal 2 years, and lots of people seem to scarcely remember i was so obese. I showed my own sons my "before pictures" and they both told me that they don't remember I was that big. They were shocked and sad to see those photos. My point - in time, this all just goes away... My main advice though is to recognize that the motivation, and support and everything PRIMARILY comes from within. That is very hard when you have a lifetime of "failures" and it is embarrasing. Well, i felt that way anyway. By the time I was sleeved, there was no pride involved.. I was DYING from obesity so all that silliness just didn't matter anymore.

Me too. It is coming up so fast. Went grocery shopping today with DH and got food for the first few weeks. I was thinking about my work week thinking that I would work Mon, Tues and Wed then I realized duh, I will be in surgery on Wed. Only working two days this week. Wow, just typing that makes my heart go faster.

I tried the eat slower app, its pretty neat. I should use it more often. Yesterday, I drank too fast and paid for it dearly. Today, I'm going back to using the eat slower app until I can become more accustomed to eating slower. I'm only 3 1/2 weeks post-op. Still learning

Thank you for such FAST replies. I knew I could count on you guys. In July when I first sat gapmouthed as the receptionist told me they werent transcribed yet I told her she had a week. That got me nowhere. It's my understanding from both my surgeon and insurance company that as long as I have a supervised diet history of 6 months along with any comorbs I can submit. My comorbs are self evident and I DO have the progress notes and letters of evaluation and test results from my sub specialists. I take those along with my PMD's pnotes (when I ever get them) I should be able to go to ANY new Dr and have them review the info and submit. I told myself in Jan that if in the 6 months I lost 50 pounds I would not have the surgery. I have lost 24 pounds and then regained about 7 so I have a net loss of 17 pounds. Hey it's a loss but for 6 months, not good enough. SO FRUSTRATING!:thumbup:

[ATTACH]1668[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]1668[/ATTACH] The pic of me in the orange is pre surgery (hw:336/ size 22). The face and long pic are me currently (size 16/18 no current weight)... This is soooooooooooo amazing... I couldn't believe how fast this happened!!!

Hello, My name is Meltini and I am going to be having surgery on 05/07/07. I am nevous:eek: , but this site and all you nice people out there, have been helpful to calm my fears.:nervous I have found so many caring and compassionate people on this site that are willing to offer their experience, thoughts and advice. Like some of the other posts, I am nevous about having something put inside me and staying there. I do feel lucky that I have a good doctor that is an abdominal/thorasic surgeon and specializes in LAP Band and Gastric Bypass. All the medical facilities are relatively close and I have support groups to choose from. I have seen a lot of people on here that do not have that luxury and have to go as far away as Mexico to get the surgery that they need and want. I feel blessed.:angel: I need this surgery. I have battling with weight all my life. Up down, up down... You know how it goes. I think it is a combination of genetics, eating and exercise habits(or lack there of), and environmental factors. We cannot control ALL of them to our liking. I do beleive that this LAP band will be a TOOL to assist me in learning new habits, making me aware of how I eat,(ie: too fast, too much, don't chew enough) and assisting me on my way to a healthier me- and hopefully someday a family!:clap2: So if anyone has any success stories to share with me about their LAP Band story, please fell free to email me or post a response. GENUINE thanks to all who have posted or will post. This site is an awesome support resource.

I like to read the longer, more detailed stories so I know EXACTLY what's going to happen, and so that's what I think I will write now. So... I got to the hospital at 5:15 am for my check in. They took me to a room, gave me the sexy hospital gown, took my vitals, asked me a ton of questions such as, "are you pregnant?"... Then came the shot. I told her that I heard it hurts, and she said "no way, look at the needle! it's tiny!". I admitted that yes, it WAS in fact little and thin and how could that hurt? She gave it to me in the stomach and then said, "see that wasn't bad!". I agreed! She turned to walk out and by the time she got to the door I was doubled over in pain. :biggrin: It wasn't the NEEDLE, it was the actual medicine (heprin, to prevent blood clotting) that hurts! But good news, it didn't hurt for too long. Maybe about 5-10 minutes. After a little bit they came and got me and took me down to the pre-op room, where I met the anesthegiologist. She said I have terrible veins (thanks Mom) and she had to use a baby needle to get an IV going. She said "don't worry, when you wake up you will have a second one, this is just to put you to sleep... I'll give you a better one for the meds but it would hurt too much to do it awake". (hmm, don't worry, eh) The surgeon came in and said hello, gave me some post-op instructions and then they both left to get ready. My OR nurse Jill came over and introduced herself and then complimented my little stuffed frog that I had with me. My daughter told me to take it for good luck, and it's her prized loved worn out little frog. I told Jill that, and she said, "tell you what - I'll let you take him into the OR with you then since he's so special". Awww! So, Little Froggy went to surgery with me. :crying: A few minutes later they took me down to the OR, and then that's when everything got cold and busy. There were 80 million people walking around in the freezing OR, doing 39 million things. Someone was putting a "seat belt" (what he called it) over me, someone was putting my arm on a board to tie it down or something, they were talking about getting some feet boards to tilt the bed where I'd be leaning up during surgery (!)... Someone said "I just gave you something to make you sleepy" and that's THE last thing I remember. Suddenly I was in the recovery room and WOW, the big incision (port) HURT. I felt like I couldn't even talk though... there was so much going on in that room, several other people that were coming out of surgery too, and my nurse was helping this lady who had eye surgery and it was her 69th birthday. She came over after a minute and asked me some questions, what my pain was (I think I said 8), gave me some morphine, the surgeon came over and said some stuff to me... I remember the one thing I was really flipping out over was the things on my legs that prevent blood clotting. WOW. I was hot and sweating all over, and these things on my legs that they put on during surgery were pressing all over the place and they kept tightening and loosening and they felt plastic. The very first thing I said was, "I dont want to do this any more" and someone laughed and said "too late, you are done!" and then I asked for my boyfriend and they said he couldn't come in until I was out of recovery... THEN I said "what is this on my legs?? It's so hot in here" and they took them off and said "oh wow, they are soaking wet - you're sweating!". Someone got a big box fan and turned it right on me and yay, I was so happy! Fan + morphine = YES! She gave me another shot of morphine, and I chilled there for a bit. I started to feel more human and become more aware of things, such as the old lady they were yelling at to stop bending her knees. LOL! I guess she had surgery on her knees but they said "we're going to take you back to the OR if you don't quit!" and she was yelling about how it hurt, etc. MAN that got annoying. Luckily I faded in and out, and finally it was time to go back to my room. I kept trying to make myself wake up some and feel better because I knew they'd let me leave there if I tried. Sure enough! Radiology was not ready for me yet, because they didn't think I'd recover that quickly (it wasn't even fast... my surgery was over at about 8:20ish and this was at 10am) and so I had to go back to my room I was in first thing in the morning. I was never so happy to be back in there with my mom and boyfriend! (As a side note, I remember as I was waking up in recovery someone saying, "what is this frog" and someone else said "that's her daughters, he was in the OR with her" - that made me happy) So we chilled for a bit, then they came at 10:30 to go down to radiology. I had to swallow this gross chalk stuff while they did x-rays. I asked to see, and they showed me my band, my "new stomach", the port, etc. It was cool! The only super uncool thing was having to move back and forth from the bed to the xray bed and back. THAT sucked but they said take your time, so I did just that. My stomach was so sore that it was hard to move. I also had to turn on my left and then right side for another xray, which sucked too. After a few minutes the doctor looked at the xrays and cleared me and they took me back up to my room. Then I got juice! I was soooo thirsty that I couldn't have been more excited about the juice. But then came the bad news. It made me feel SO sick. I had them get water, and that was way better. I think the juice was just too sweet. The nurse said in order to leave and go home I had to drink a certain amount and keep it down, I had to go to the bathroom a certain amount, and the bariatric coordinator for the hospital had to come in and talk to me. That was motiviation!! I could only drink a medicine cup of water every 5 minutes, which was so weird - but they said my stomach is the size of a golf ball! That kind of freaked me out. I started feeling pretty sick when I stood up to go to the bathroom and I thought I was going to throw up - I started dry-heaving, and the nurse went and got me something for that. It helped some but it was a slow fix. I just kind of chilled out for a couple of hours, drinking water, going to the bathroom, sitting in the chair... dozing off some. Then the coordinator came in and started going through this HUGE packet of information. I mean seriously?? I was EXHAUSTED and feeling sick and she was talking all about eating and chocolate flavored calcium pills and oh man, it was just way too much. They should have her come before the surgery. At one point she said, "don't get bored, I am just telling you this stuff because you need to know it all". I wasn't bored, I was tired! That kind of annoyed me, but finally she was done and she left. Whew! They said the last thing I had to do was walk with that coordinator down the hall and back to make sure I was okay and then they'd let me go. We did that, and she asked how I felt. I said still a little sick, very sore, and very tired. She said the gas is what makes you sick and the best way to get it out is to walk. I didn't know this, but when you walk around the gas gets absorbed in your body. Otherwise it just sits there until you can "pass" it. So we got done with our walk, she cleared me, and I go to go home! My surgery was at 7:15am and I left at 2:30. I felt pretty dang bad when I got home. I kept thinking, WHAT did I do this for? I took some stuff for my stomach, and that helped some. I was so sore that I couldn't walk much, and I am sure the gas was just building up inside me. I was almost regretful of what I had done but I got reassurance from another MAYO BANDITO, Bethany. She reminded me that some think the gas is the worst part of it all, and some do regret doing it for that reason. Just to know that the feelings I was feeling were normal helped me so much. So, thanks again Bethany! I guess that's it! That's my story. I want to always remember how it went and how I felt so that I can motivate myself to make this work! I will be a happy person if I never have to go into an OR again. :cool2:

Oh, and who cares if you have to take an antacid pill each morning?? That ain't no thang!! And you WILL be eating in restaurants again - Where are you being told you can't????? Yes, you are physically only able to ingest about 1/4 of a cup to 1/2 of a cup, but it's amazing how quickly each of us figures out our routines at the restaurants. It's not going to be easy, there are all sorts of accommodations that you will make, but then it will all just become routine and your new normal and it won't be hard or difficult at all. It's just going to be new at first. Yes, there will be weeks where life sucks right after the surgery, there will be tears and there will be fears. How old are you? I was on no medications, no "co-morbidities" up until I was 41. Then I woke-up in ICU. My gallbladder went bad due to my years of high fat diet. That then threw a gall stone into my pancreas duct which caused my pancreas to back up, start digesting itself, ruining the cells the produce insulin, putting me into a six month acute pancreatitis and now I'm diabetic, have no gall bladder and get to have tests every 6 months. There are horror stories from either side. I really hope that you are able to find peace today in whatever decision you make. This is your life and this is one means to take control over our weight, but there are other ways. You could do the liquid fasting for a year or two, you could spend the next couple of years restricting yourself and basically following the bariatric diet without the surgery and exercise. It's all possible. Whatever you decide is the path you were meant to take. I know it's terrifying, I'm sending you a massive hug!!

Hey Guys & Gals!!!!!!!!! I am now 2 months out and ready to really get down and dirty in the kitchen. Does anyone have any recipes, cookbooks, websites that you recommend?? Holidays are fast approaching and Id love to wow with my not only newfound cooking skills but also my healthy and delicious creations!

After reading all about PBs, I was under the impression that this meant that your food comes back up because of overeating. But then I found out what PB stands for "productive burp". So I do burp a lot after eating. I know this is because I eat too fast. But if it is said that PBs are bad for you, does this count? Or are they just talking about your food coming all the way back up? Can burping too much cause damage, as well? I'm not new, so I should know this by now, I know:faint:. But my surgeon just cautioned me about vomiting and the damage that could cause, nothing about burping...

Go to the ER ASAP! I was just over 2 weeks out and felt like poop. No energy, just felt wrong, stomach pain, nausea and couldn't drink protein at all. Dr admitted me and it took 2 IV bags before I was able to give any urine...I was that dehydrated. It happened so fast. One day I was all smiles and sunshine, the next I was so tired and just not feeling right. I wound up getting my gallbladder out! Now I am sore from 2 surgeries in such a short time. I hope you are OK

I'm new to this site and I have got a lot of feed back so far and loving it! So, I just started the process and haven't received a date yet but everything is going so fast I think I will be in before the 6 months everyone says it takes, has anyone else gone this fast? Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

My first couple weeks were rough. My stubbornness and determination that I put myself through surgery to lose weight kept me going! Good luck and it does get better! Thank you! It's been a loooonnngggg road, but when I look back the year went so fast.

Congrats and wishing you a fast easy recovery!!

I was just approved this past Thursday and will be receiving my surgery date Monday morning. It happened very fast for me because I really stayed on the insurance company to speed up the review process. You ask and you shall receive. Good luck on your journey.:confused:

I was banded on 8/15/08 and have had two fills. One at about 8 weeks out and then the last one was about 10 weeks after that. I have lost 48 pounds so far but I am not sure I know what to note as restriction. I try to measure my food and I think my weakness is snacking. I try to watch it but when I am not working and at home I know I eat more between meals. I do feel full after I eat and I suffer if I eat too fast and don't chew well enough but I really don't have a clue as to what it would feel like to reach a sweet spot. I have a 9 cc band and only about 5 cc's in there right now. I think I will need another fill soon. Maybe that is one reason I am snacking.

Surby, there's nothing wrong with you, but there may indeed be something wrong with your band. Have you spoken with your doctor about this? Many people need three or more fills to feel the right level of restriction, but most feel SOME effect even after only one fill. Do you not have any sensation of tightness at all, no matter what you eat or how fast you eat it?

I have Kaiser Insurance and I just started last week the Options class I am on week 2 today I already had my labs done and my EKG last week and today I scheduled my appointment for my psych evaluation and my health appraisal I am going to that before my class tonight I feel good about the Psych Evaluation I have no issues really that I know off I am not scared or anything. I think it will go good.

@@kerryberry16 Hi there! I just want to say that it is perfectly normal to have these doubts once you are set to have surgery. After all, it is a big one that will require a lot from you. I am 53, I was 310lbs at 5'10" when I had RNY. I had type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, severe gerd, sleep apnea, anemia, stage 3 kidney disease. It was the kidney disease that came from years of obesity that was the straw for me. A lot of these illnesses came on fast and when one came the other was right around the corner. My nephrologist (kidney specialist) is the one who suggested I consider WLS. He made sure that i understood that window was very small given my declining kidney function. If I got to a point where I was too sick, they would not operate. It took 9 months to get through the 6 month process from start to finish and by the time I got there I was so ready to have this done that if anything delayed it I became emotional. I just knew that having bypass was going to help me get control of my weight which in turn would Help me become healthier. That was what it was all about for me. Well I had my surgery nearly 2 years ago. Within 3 months ALL of my comorbitities were in remission including my kidney function. I was able to stop taking 8 prescriptions for things I simply did not suffer from. This surgery literally gave me back my life. That being said, it is NOT easy in any way, shape or form. Most bypass patients DO NOT get dumping syndrome. I believe the number is only about 30% and it usually stops after the first year or so. Some suffer with it longer. I tell you this mostly so that you know, you will likely not have it. Those that do get it really wish they didn't. The surgery really helps you control quantity of food at any one given time. You have to make the changes to your diet to put the right things in there the right amount of times per day. Now is the time to begin to make lots of changes. Many of us had food funerals, it is only natural to want to try the things that you think you will never have again. The reality is, you will be able to enjoy most foods just in smaller quantities. Don't let that fear change where you are headed. I am one of those people that waited way too long to have this surgery and nearly killed myself in the process. It caused me to develop severe osteoarthritis of the spine, shoulders and knees. Over the last 14 years I have had 6 back surgeries with 2 of them being after bypass. I also had to have my left shoulder rebuilt because of bone on bone arthritis. I am literally disabled because I allowed myself to continue down a deadly path with obesity. RNY is the best thing that ever happened to me and if I had to do it over again, I would do it 10 to 15 years sooner before all the damage to my body. Even with such severe osteoarthritis, I feel fantastic!!! Every single day is like a new birthday for me because I am not sick. I LOVE food. Its just a different food that I now crave. I was a sugarholic! After RNY your tastes really do change and you learn to love good quality Protein, good carbs like fruits and veggies. Yes, I do eat sweets now and then but I have learned to control myself. My nut taught me to believe everything in moderation and to eat a balance meal. After losing the first 50lbs, my activity level increased. My feet no longer hurt, my ankles and knees both improved dramatically. I was able to get up and down stairs without keeling over from lack of oxygen. LOL. Don't let your fears stop you from doing what you need to do to get healthy. You started this process for a reason, stay focused on that reason. Less than 5% of people are successful losing this kind of weight on their own and keeping it off long term. That is the key, keeping it off. Maintenance is hard work and you always worry about regain. The good news is, once you have RNY the tool is always there for you. You just need to build good eating habits. 90% of your weight loss will come from diet. I wish you the best of luck with this and I hope that you are able to get to a place where you are content with your decision.

Hi Papillon, I am new to all of this. I have just started the process my first appointment is on the 29th of September. Good luck with your surgery! I too am having Dr. Podakemeni. Do you have BCBS of AZ? That is what I have. My regular doctor stated it wasn't that hard to have them okay things. After your first appointment did it take long to get a surgery date? I have heard a lot of good things about this Doctor. Are you having to do a special diet before going in for surgery? Congratulations as the 13th is fast approaching. Thank you! Thanks, Rxsunset

Man, I get those hiccups, too. It sucks, but it happens to me a lot. Fortunately they only last a few minutes for me. I don't see anything wrong with what you ate. Maybe you just ate a little too fast. Or did you drink any while eating? Sometimes even a little sip gets me going. I'm with Swizzly, potatoes are NOT my friend yet. They fill me up SO super fast. Hope you are feeling better today!

I have been losing about .5 lbs a day but on my pre-op diet I couldn't eat and now that I am post-op I haven't started it back up. I get full so fast I cant imagine adding bread back into my diet. BUT even still last week (3rd week) there were a few days I gained half a lb instead of lost. I know I shouldn't scale watch BUT I cant help it.. lol.. Now I am a month out and it is back to half a pound a day.