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I think most MI based insurance programs have a 6 month process. I had to meet with a doc once a month, the nut,exercise, and behaviorist one time. The insurance companies changed their policies on June 1st this year...call and check with them (ask you docs office for the surgery codes before you call) Sleeved 10\23\12 by Dr. James Foote, Grand Health Partners

If you are cursed then I am too :thumbdown: I am 7 months post op, I lost 22 lbs pre op and then only 8 pounds for 6 months post op! Now this past month (Jan) I have finally started to lose. I know the feeling of waiting for something to happen, I have 5.5 cc in a 10 cc band right now and it is so hard when I see other people losing fast than me. However, I do not get stuck (unless I try to eat bread of any sort) I am wondering if you need a slight un-fill? I am not a Doctor obviously so it is just my thought. Good luck to you, please know you are not alone and I wish you well, Barbie

Hello there, I was revised from band to sleeve on 9/15/2010. Well my experience was initially great, I got to goal in 10 months and went 11 Lbs below. I am going on 4 years post op and many issues and complications have gotten me a weight gain, as well as extremely bad GERD so my new surgeon has me working toward a revision to the Bypass. If you have any specific questions, I'm always open for interpretation. All the best in your upcoming journey!

So I'm 2 months out and down 22. I had a 31 BMI to begin with so I am on the lower side. I tend to get between 800-1100 calories per day and have slowly been losing.... My question to you is: have you tried eating more calories to lose more weight and if so, was it successful? I truly feel like I'm not getting enough and maybe with more I will lose more but I also don't want to gain I also walk between 6-10 miles per day but that is it for exercise. Your thoughts are appreciated

I am feeling the same way, exactly. I was banded on 10/28/11 and I have lost 19 lbs so far (including the pre-op diet). I'm so afraid that I did this for nothing. I know that I have to do the work and the band will help me, but I have failed at every other diet I have tried. What if I don't have what it takes to do this successfully? Good luck with your journey.

Hi, My surgery date is 9/16. I have been on the Pre-op Diet for 10 days. My surgeon requires 2-3 Protein drink per day with 2 high protein meals. I usually start my day with a shake on the way to work. Then at lunch eat a salad with some type of lean meat - and FF dressing. Then about 3:00 p.m. or so I have another Protein Drink. For dinner, I usually eat something grilled - like fish or chicken with a veggie (squash, green Beans, brocolli). Any veggie that is low in carbs. Portion control is important. Stick to whatever 1 serving size is. I have another shake later in the evening if I get hungry. I am using the EAS Advant drinks. You can get them in the grocery stores. They were approved by my surgeon. Eat Slow and chew well at mealtime. That will help get you ready for later in the post op diet. Every surgeon has different requirements. This Pre-op diet is not as restrictive as some. Good Luck, and I hope this helps.

Honestly if you have Barrett's esophagus I wouldn't touch the sleeve with a 10 foot pole. I had an endoscopy earlier this week and if the biopsy shows any signs of Barrett's there is no question I'm converting to bypass. Good luck with your decision. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Right when I woke from surgery I felt an ache in my left leg. I forgot all about it because of the pain meds, but the next moring it was like I just ran 10 miles. :tongue_smilie: It's still just as bad 4 days later? I don't know why this would happen? Anyone have this problem?

I was banded within about 10 days of you and in the 34 lbs down range as well. So, if you are behind then I am too!!! My fills havent kicked in yet, two tiny fills which havent done a thing for my appetite. So, maybe if I get another fill Ill "get it" but so far it just seems like a regular diet to me and its tough. Im being so good and walking every day and getting to where I feel like you do, when the scales dont drop day after day, I get down. I hope you can start getting fills soon and they help. Ill be pulling for ya. Just stick to it. Its gotta keep moving the scales down eventually.

I feel like I'm able to eat more than I should be eating. I am a year out, and I can eat more than 8-10 bites of food. If I did stretch the stomach out, how do I get it smaller without another surgery? Any ideas??

I had my surgery on 2/17/2015. I just checked my entries and I started back at the gym on 3/30/2015. I wanted until I spoke with my surgeon about being safe to go to the gym not only because of the physical exertion, but also because it is a hotbed of bacteria. I had a hematoma that had to be kept open and packed, so it took a while. When I was finally healed up enough to not worry about infections, I was told to do exercise as tolerated. I started doing only cardio, stationary bike, treadmill, and elliptical. Then I added light weights and simply moving my body around the core. As long as I didn't feel any pain, I would continue what I was doing or add something new. I have known the people that work in the rec center for about 7 years so I had no problem telling them that I had sleeve surgery. They recommended I start off on the ab machine so that I was using a lighter weight than my body weight. Now I am using the ball with a medicine ball in my hands held infront of my face to ensure proper posture while doing crunches. I don't remember what I started out doing, probably 30 crunches with 3 sets of 10. Now I am up to about 200 crunches a day. I also do oblique crunches to make sure I am strengthening all of my core and not just my abs. I have a little pattern that I follow. I start with the medicine ball and do ten "around the worlds" in each direction.Ball in left hand bring the ball behind you and pass it to your right hand. Bring your right hand around to your front and pass it to your left hand. Repeat 10 times. This is to keep my shoulders loose and to increase range of motion. I have to do this since I also had shoulder surgery and it is a hold over from my rehab days. Then I do 10 crunches on the ball with the same medicine ball held in front of my face. Next is what ever weight training I am doing that day. Shoulders and back, bi's & triceps, or chest. One set of whatever weight and then I go get a sip of Water from the fountain. This gives me the rest before I repeat the process and helps me hit my water goal for the day. On a shoulder day, I will do about 7 different exercises with 3 sets. In between those are sets of 10 crunches on the ball. Then I switch to the cable machine for 2 different oblique exercises. After I finish with the weight room, I go over to the cardio for 30 min to get a good sweat on. It took me a good two months to build up to that. I want to stress that I am not trying to build muscle though. Back when I was far more into weight lifting, it was all about muscle growth. I am only trying to stave off atrophy and muscle loss right now. I am not doing anything over 30lbs EVER! I am only 4 months out, you cannot gain muscle mass safely at this stage. Worry about gaining muscle and definition after you hit your goal. <edit> Woah, that turned out to be a book. Sorry about that, didn't mean to go all Steinbeck on you!

I am now approved and have a date to be added to the losers bench. 01-04-17

I was banded 10 days ago and am allowed soft mushie food. I am definately not over eating as am having really small amounts but after a few bites and chewing really slowly, making a 'soupy mush' in my mouth, I get a stabbing achy pain in my back, right between my shoulder blades. This has happened three times now. Either I've pulled a muscle (but as a massage therapist, it just doesn't feel like I have....) or it's my bodies way of saying "ok, enough food now. Stop." I hope it's the latter as this comes within 5-10 mins of eating. I'm only eating around half- two thirds of an egg type amount. Does anyone else get this? Perhaps I've just hurt my back and it's still stiff after being in hospital (but I don't feel stiff!) Lost 10lbs in a week, but no more for the last 4 days. Hope this is normal too! Happy Banding :blushing: Gill :scared2:

How slowly are you eating? I chewed 30 times, and waited one minute between each very small bite. I think that gave my tummy time to send the signal, but I still had issues at first. I didn't try Rtiz crackers. I could eat one or two saltines and about an ounce of soft meat at one sitting. So a typical day at three weeks was: 6 a.m. 1 cup Water 8 a.m. 1 cup decaf 9 a.m. 1/2 cup greek yogurt with splenda 11:00 a.m. Protein drink noon: 1 cup water 1:45 p.m. 2 oz. turkey meatloaf 2:45 I cup crystal light lemonaide 4:30 p.m. Light cheese stick 5:30 p.m. 1 cup water 6:30 p.m. 2 oz. turkey meatloaf 7:30 p.m. 2 oz turkey meatloaf 10 p.m. 1 cup water Lynda Lynda

You are inspiring to me! I got stuck after losing 140 lbs and I got so 'satisfied' in my head with how I was looking and kept wanting and wanting to get below the 200 lb mark and I keep bouncing up and down and then slipped back over the holidays with gaining from some sloppy eating habits. I decided to recommit to my old 2008 self when losing weight was foremost in my mind every hour of every day as I got ready to have my lapband surgery in March and for those exciting months after when I was losing weight so fast. I joined a WW class at work that starts January 13 and it goes for a 10 week session and I'm going to fight like heck to get my 199 or less lbs mark. Keep me in prayers for this all important life milestone.

I decided to have weight loss surgery in December 2012. It took mow way to long to get through the pre op process. I finally had surgery 2/19/14 it was the best decision I have ever made. I am now down 75lbs today and feel amazing. I am now in regular size clothing and feel more confident every day.

@@tia92 like you - @Kate_UK @Soodoo also live in the UK I "think" living in the UK, it takes a longer time to have to wait for surgery 2-3 years, "maybe" up to 10 years egads I "think" Canada has a long waiting list too other countries maybe if a person in America is waiting for surgery due to approval from insurance - it could take as long as one year, maybe 2 years i was approved in 6 months others are approved quicker, or later good luck kathy

Hi Leslie, I chose lap-band over RNY for several reasons. In order: 1. Safer. Statistics show that RNY is 10 times riskier (1/200 RYN vs. 1/2000 band I believe) 2. No malabsorbsion. 3. Less invasive - no cutting, stapling, re-routing or removing. 4. Less likelihood of regaining weight - which is my particular problem area. 5. Time - I could have lap-band in 3 weeks, instead of having to wait 3 years. I had to deal with this now. 5. Reversible Downside: Cost, slower weight loss. Some may find that the necessary follow ups, ie fills, can be problematic - but my clinic is extremely convenient, within walking distance of my office so it was not an issue with me. Hope this helps. Alex

I was banded in 2008. About 2 years later, I was told my band/stomach was dilated, so Dr. unfilled me completely. I have not been able to go back to Dr - insurance/financial reasons. I have been having issues at least TWICE a week where, after I eat (no matter what I eat), within 10 minutes, I get excruciating pain in my upper abdomen, more towards the right, radiates to my back and I feel just miserable. Sometimes it feels like gall stones...however, my gall bladder was removed in 1995. The pain is so bad, it hurts to take a deep breath and sometimes to even move. I already take Nexium for acid reflux. There's more.....I have chronic kidney stones (for 9 years now) and had a stone blasted last week, with 9 still sitting in both kidneys. I notice when I get this pain, I get flank pain also. It usually lasts for several hours and I am miserable. When I went to urologist for follow up xray, I was told my band is still in place, but dilated...I'm completely empty. We just moved so I am looking for a local weight loss surgeon/dr, but am still trying to figure out insurance issues. I'm thinking next time I get this, I should make a trip to the ER, tell them EVERYTHING and see if it can get taken care of sooner rather than later. Any advice? Suggestions? Anyone have these issues (probably not all at the same time). I would so greatly appreciate it. I cannot go on like this. Thank you so much for your time. God Bless. Andrea

Hello, Can someone tell me if Vitaminwater is good for the band? And how much can we drink? Banded 11/08/05 286 01/08/06 255

Down the road you shouldnt ahve any issues, but take it easy now. I always found after any abdominal trauma (natural childbirth and caesars included) my core muscles take a beating and I find myself very weak in the back for a while. I personally couldnt wear my babies for a good few months after birth for example, and I'm big and strong at 5ft 10.

My doctor and dietician weighed me everytime I entered their office. I was right on the edge so I had to gain 30 lbs during my 6 month eval with the dietician to make the requirements for the insurance company. All worked out and a month later I was approved but this was a battle. From the first doctor's appt to surgery date was 1 1/2 years. I was put on the pre-surgery diet 10 days before surgery and it wasn't hard at all because he allowed me to eat a small piece of chicken and a small helping of mashed potatoes or rice once a day, the rest of my meals were liquids. It wasn't that bad. Good luck to you.

Hi Everyone, I am scheduled for Surgery on September 21. 10 days away!!! I am in Melbourne Australia. Good luck to everyone who has surgery scheduled this month!!!

I was concerned about the same thing, and what I learned is that if you have a leak, you will know it because you will have a fever and lots of intense abdominal pain that stays for hours. Complications from sleeve surgery are rare with experienced surgeons. It is probably better for you to spend time thinking about your new healthy life than to worry too much about what complication you might run across. I remember not feeling all that well at day 10 post op, so I can understand your concern. Just keep following your surgeon's instructions and focus on getting your Protein and Water in each day and before you know it you will be far down the recovery path!