Search the Community

Very normal. I got so fatigued by the end of my pre-op liquid diet that I could barely lift my arms to wash my hair in the shower! I was basically eating 450 calories a day which trying to live a normal life and with 100% of my stomach still. So of course I felt like crap!

I'm scheduled for the 16th of September :tongue2: has anyone found a september bandsters area other than this one? I dont have to do a liquid diet but I'm kind of sad about that because it would be nice to have a jump start weight loss before the surgery. I felt like my 6 month diet would never end but now I could do with everything slowing down a bit....

I wish. Quite the opposite for me for a variety of reasons, but even before that, weight loss didnt increase my libido at all.

I found the best protein drinks at a place called weight loss zone here in Amarilo. They had about 20 flavors and most mix with water not milk. Most flavors only have 1-2grams carbs. Grape, Lemonfrazz, and cinamon hot chocolate are my favorites.

I'm in month 2 of my 6 months of required appointments and all the jumping through the hoops. Just curious if anyone else is going to Vanderbilt for their weight loss surgery, or is that where you had it? My surgeon is Dr. David Williams at Vanderbilt. If all goes as planned this will be my last summer feeling like crap. How do you add the avatars and stuff? I'm pretty forum savvy but can't seem to find the area on this forum to do it. I know about ticker factory and all that, just can't find the place here to put it. This place is great :tt1:

I don't get it ??? Tom, Toronto Banded July 6 06 Wt. Loss: 156 lbs

I have been wearing elastic waist basketball shorts ever since my surgery, and since I live in a hot climate and no longer work it hasn't been a problem. I have one pair of khakis that I wear to church, but my wife is getting tired of my "upper class homeless guy" look. I was fine with it, but a couple of weeks ago I had to go out of town to a funeral and realized that I had nothing to wear. SInce we had no shopping time until I had to go, I dug way in the back of my closet and found a sport coat that I had not been able to wear in 15 years and my trusty khakis. I guess I looked semi-presentable. But it did make me think that I need pants since it is now 40 degrees. My wife took matters into her own hands and went shopping. Not wanting to spend a lot, she went to K-Mart. Well she found the sleeved mans Godsend. Dockers style pants with an adjustable waist. They aren't the funky looking elastic waist things either. The look like a nice pair of slacks with this nifty little adjustable thing inside. You may be acquainted with them from tux pants or from little kids jeans. I found that I can make them go down almost 2 inches! The really cool thing is that they cost less than $20! These should work for around 20 pounds of weight loss.

I'm 14 months out and "only" down 59 lbs. I'll take whatever weight loss I can get. Because if I hadn't had the band for the last 14 months, I'd probably be up another 30+ lbs!! I'm a slow loser compared to everyone else in my surgery date group, but it beats the alternative. Also, as far as fills. I've had 6 fills. I'm at 8.2cc in a 9cc band. I think I'm just one of those people who took a long time to get to the green zone. I'm finally able to not eat 6inch subs or any bread really for that matter. So, glass half full!!!! You're doing good!

It does sound like you need a fill. Also you mentioned not eating as well as you should. I know it's sucks but try to kickstart your weight loss by eating low cal/fat protein and veggies. If you are on a food plan most schools now have grill where you can order chicken and veggies. Ask them to make thing with as little oil as possible and low salt flavorings.

Dear Sweatheart, I have NONE of the issues you are describing (a few minor ones for sure) but, I can tell you, you are right to be cautious and thoughtful and ask MANY questions. Questioning all this and doing your research does not make you a loon! lol It makes you an informed, smart patient. While I cant guarantee you that the waters will be always smooth, I can say that my father is a doctor in this area and was instrumental in developing the bariatric program here so, when I decided I wanted this, I GOT AN EARFULL!! I could go on for days about stats, case studies etc! lol Even in saying that, HE was concerned about me making such a permanent, life altering decision too. this is a BIG deal.All your emotions are the right ones to have , because they are yours. Its your body, your life, your feelings and your doctors and support staff should answer them all with patience and understanding. If you don't feel you have the right team, you can always stop and begin again with another. This is not my first surgery, I did have the band, now I am having the bypass. I will say, I lost almost 100lbs and for me, it was life altering. My health improved, my self esteem rose up off the floor for the first time in years, and I felt like a light, happy confident women just like all the other women in the room for once! Unlike some people will think of us, this is not magic! I worked VERY hard at this, I ate right, and worked out hard, and it paid off! I was my own fairy weight loss godmother! lol My band was defective and my thyroid has worsened so, my surgeon feels bypass is best now so, this is the continuation of my path. Its all scary uncharted territory for you right now and its tons of information to take in it seems but, remember, its also a learn on the job sort of thing to a point as well. You certainly want to follow direction but, you can ALWAYS ask if you forget, of feel weird or confused until you are a bypass master. Then it will be as much a part of you as breathing is. As for your illnesses, they will certainly be effected by this change (most likely in a very good way) but you learned to manage them when you first became diagnosed and you will relearn as they change as you are obviously a savvy patient. The only constant in life is change! I think your making a very brave change just for you and all for the best. However, as I said, if you have lingering doubt, keep on asking, get another consult, whatever it takes until you are FULLY comfortable. This process is tough enough, you have to feel confident you have made a good and informed decision. you will be in my thoughts and prayers, please message me any time at all, good luck and feel better, stay well and think POSITIVE!

I had my surgery 5 months ago And I haven't drank a month before it and my friends are going out tonight .... Am going too but I want to drink ... 3 glasses maybe of vodka and cranberry juice its my low carb day and I am afraid of gaining weight as I had a High carb day yesterday! i will be drinking today! Will i gain weight ? will it effect my weight loss! thanks

Hi Mick, Actually, just the opposite; if anything the sleeve will help your situation. You can potentially get rid of your diabetic symptoms with the sleeve and a proper high Protein / low carbohydrate diet. And if you have only been diabetic for a short period of time -- less than a year or two -- the odds of this reversal are very very good. The news that you are diabetic should probably strengthen your resolve to have a weight loss surgery. And the surgeons deal with diabetic sleevers all the time. In fact, most insurance companies need to see that you have one or more "co-morbidities" in order to approve the procedure. (The usual co-morbidity list includes Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, a high Body Mass Index number, sleep Apnea, High Cholesterol / Triglycerides...) I would say that you are in the right place at the right time. You had already come to the decision that you want to have this procedure for a better quality of life and you can also reverse a terrible disease. You said that you don't know much about diabetes but I have seen it in my family all of my life. My sister is a blind amputee who has no feeling in her feet; she has 8 stints in the arteries around her heart. My brother died at age 47 from heart disease cause by diabetes. My grandmother had alzheimer's which is now clinically linked to diabetes. My great uncle was an amputee from this disease. I found last year that I have Type 2 diabetes. My surgery was 9/23/11. I have already been taken off of all of my diabetes medication. I hope this helps. I wish you all the best. Ms.C.

The endless waiting is the hardest part. It is urgent for us to accomplish each step, but it is not urgent for all of the recepionists, insurance coordinators and clinicians that the paperwork has to pass through. Here is the thing about co-morbidities: It does not necessarily have to be a condition that puts you speciifically at risk. If you have a family history of heart attack, strokes, or pre-mature death due to obesity related conditions, that could lean in your favor. Here is a list of common co-mobidities that the insurance companies consider. The information is from a U S Government website called the National Instititute of Health. I hope this helps. Obesity Comorbidities To follow is a list of comorbidities (additional conditions or diseases) related to obesity which may help you in qualifying for weight loss surgery. • Family history of heart disease • Family history of stroke • Family history of diabetes • Family history of heart attacks • Hyperinsulinemia • Diabetes • High blood pressure • Coronary-artery disease • Hypertension • Migraines or headaches directly related to obesity or cranial hypertension • Congestive heart failure • Neoplasia • Dyslipidemia • Anemia • Gallbladder disease • Osteoarthritis • Degenerative arthritis • Degenerative disc • Degenerative joint disease • Recommended joint replacement from specialist • Accelerated degenerative joint disease • Asthma • Repeated pneumonia • Repeated pleurisy • Repeated bronchitis • Lung restriction • Gastroesophageal reflex (GERD) • Excess facial & body hair (Hirsutism) • Rashes • Chronic skin infections • Excess sweating • Frequent yeast infections • Urinary stress incontinence • Menstrual irregularity • Hormonal abnormalities • Polycystic ovaries • Infertility • Carcinoma (breast, colon, uterine cancer) • sleep apnea • Pseudotumor cerebri • Depression • Psychological/sexual dysfunction • Social discrimination • Premature death in the immediate family

You're NOT too far out for an incision to be leaking, nor are you too far out for a stomach leak. HOWEVER, you probably don't have a leak. It's very rare to have a leak and you don't mention any of the symptoms that others have mentioned when they did have leaks. As for feeling crummy, you may still be reacting to the anesthetic given to you during surgery. Also, your body may require a lot of your energy to heal, which will also leave you feeling blah. It does take a while to heal and get that energy boost for many people. Be prepared because most sleevers experience a weight loss stall at 3 weeks out. It's perfectly normal and is related to the surgery. Our bodies hold onto weight for a few days to a few weeks because we have suddenly changed how much fuel we are putting into them. It will pass. Many doctors keep their patients on liquids for up to 4 weeks, so if you don't feel ready for pureed foods yet, don't worry about it. However, being on only liquids may be contributing to your tired/crummy feelings. It's tough to get in enough calories on liquids alone, so you may want to try adding some pureed food to your daily diet. You might find that it helps you feel more alert. Maybe try some watered down mashed potatoes or some strained cream Soup. I even liked the liquid from egg drop soup at this point. Also, and this will probably sound strange, are you walking and getting any exercise in? Exercise plays a big role in how good we feel about ourselves, helps with weight loss, and may encourage you to eat/drink more. Good luck! I hope you feel better soon!

Hi... I just want to share a good resource to help anyone who has had bariatric surgery or anyone considering it. You may already be aware of The book authored by Alex Brecher and Natalie Stein, "The BIG Book on Bariatric Surgery: Living Your Best Life After Weight Loss Surgery." It is now available as an Audiobook. As the narrator, I have a handful of promotional codes I can share with you, entitling you to a free copy of the Audiobook from www.audible.com. If you'd like one, please email me directly at dseawel@seawel.com. When they are gone... they are gone. You can see the Audiobook at: http://goo.gl/ZbQ6hl If you purchase the book and find it helpful, I would really appreciate you posting a positive review at Audible.com about the book. Thanks! and best wishes on your weight loss journey! Dave "McCormick" Seawel PS: I am a Gastric Sleeve surgery veteran myself. I had my surgery 4 months ago. I lost 25 pounds prior to surgery and another 60 pounds since! What a great feeling!

I started the C to 5k program last april....9 week program.....took me about 15 weeks to complete because if I hit a roadblock during a given week, I would go back and start the entire week over. I then moved on to the C to 10k.... Now, I run 5 miles, 5 days per week...... I had hit my weight loss goal months ago, but running has caused me to continue to drop clothing sizes.....changes your body, for sure! Did I mention I'm 61 years old and had one heart attack? resulting in coronary surgery? Because of the Lap band, loosing weight and starting a rigorous exercise routine, my cardiologist and other Dr.'s say I am their most remarkable patient! Thank You LAB BAND!!!!

@@maria1026 thanks for the tip. I was so worried. I figured first couple days because of pain and new stomach I would not be hungry but after I start healing would the hungry come back. @@Dub glad to hear that too. I saw your pic yesterday and you look amazing. Great job on your weigh loss. Truly an inspiration that this can be done!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

HI! I look back on my post op experience and my biggest regret is that I got off of the liquid diet too soon. I followed my doctors advice and followed the post op plan, I just wish I had gone even a few more weeks or even a month on pure liquids. I look back and that is when I lost almost all of the weight. I haven't been able to replicate that loss since then. I still have another 20-30 lbs I really want to lose. Post op liquids is also the hardest time. It was like going through withdrawal! haha I thought it was horrible and damn near excruciating to be cut off from solid food, it really wasn't all that bad in hindsight. I wish I had embraced that feeling. Good luck to all!

This is true. Sometimes it is not so easy though=) Congrats on your weight loss!!

I agree with her. I have seen a lot of postings about bypass patients gaining weight back and stretching their new stomachs. I like the fact that I control the fill levels so that will not happen. I love my band and I wouldn't have it any other way. With that being said, you have to realize that the weight loss is slower with the band. I have the feeling that it can be kept off for a longer period of time though.

One of the reasons I chose the band was because of the long-term prospects. At 5 years out, the weight loss between the band and bypass is the same, from what I could find. And with the bypass, you don't have any way to adjust it later if need be. Pouches stretch out, and the body adapts to the malabsorption. With the band, it can be adjusted however your body needs it to be as you go along. That was very appealing to me.

Hi everyone lets get together and send up prayers for all the March 19 sleeves. Please post to let everyone know that your surgery went fine and anything else you like to add. Set weight loss goals for six months after surgery. I will be first my six month goal is 60 pounds gone by by.

This is YOUR journey, not anyone else's. Tell as much as or as little as you feel comfortable telling others. I'm 15+ weeks out. I have only told a handful of those in my "inner circle". Not even my family knows. If anyone comments about my weight loss or asks me how I'm doing it, I can answer honestly: I am trying to make healthier choices. I'm being more active. Etc. If they ask me specifics, I give them generalities of what I do. I focus on protein and reduce (but not eliminate) carbs. Fortunately, I'm losing slow enough that no one pushes for any more than what I answer and I'm fine with that.

I started a new job about 3 months before I had surgery. Told my boss and HR and 1 trusted coworker what I was doing. No one noticed or said anything about my weight loss until I lost well over 50 lbs, more like 65 lbs before they said anything to me. The HR head actually asked to see an old picture of me because she couldn’t remember what I looked like before. It’s been really easy. Someone who was overweight asked me and I took her aside and told her what I did. Everyone else I told that I had a health issue and had to lose weight (true) so I was doing high protein small portions. My cover story was gallbladder surgery.