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It's getting nearer to Tuesday:scared0:. I sincerely appreciate your support and prayers. I want to send love out to all of you and pray for all of us to have a complication free surgery with a "speedy and uneventful recovery". Thank you God for being with us.

Hi Kristen! I am right there with ya. I'm 36 and a mom to two young boys, my biggest fear is leaving them. I'm excited for surgery I find out Thursday when my date is, but I'm terrified of complications I've only had one other major surgery (breast reduction) and a few small surgeries. I had complications after my BR the surgeon hut an artery and didn't know it until I was in recovery luckily my husband notice something wasn't right, he literally saved my life! So now I'm so nervous about this one and the fact that when I had my BR (I was 27) I didn't have any health issues other than my PCOS and fibromyalgia, now I have a leaky mitral valve to add to the mix so I'm a bit more concerned but it's also a big factor in WHY I'm having WLS, less weight is less stress on the heart , so many what ifs running through my head, I'll be asking my surgeon so many questions during my pre op on Thursday lol but my need and want to see my children grow up out weighs that fear by a million. The best of luck to you!!!

Yeah that was due to my extra time in the operating room it went from a 1.5 hr surgery to a 7.5 hr surgery because of my complication and also I was in ICU which was $4500.00 a day then a regular room for $1300.00 a day so in all I stayed 8 days plus everything else yeah its really expensive

I've not had a problem eating anything either, and I'm 12 weeks out. It's great. Zero complications! Give it some more time and keep following the rules. The weight will start coming off and you'll begin to learn your body again. It took me awhile to differentiate between real hunger and head hunger. It gets better though, and the restriction becomes more noticeable as time goes on. You've got to allow yourself adequate time to heal. Keep busy and distract yourself from thoughts of food. Walk as much as you can, or whatever exercise you enjoy. It's too soon to panic. You've got this. Best of luck!

Any drainage? Is it itchy? A little pink is not to bad but when I had mine done I was told itching meant if was healing....Ive had other surgies before and knew that itching was part of healing but when I told the.nurse the itch was unbearable and my site was fire engine Red she asked me to come in, it turns out it was a topical skin yeast infection a complication from the antibiotics I had gotten in the hospital. When in doubt get it checked out!

We went to dr. Alvarez in Mexico who is extremely experienced and has a. Very low complication rate. We paid $8,900 each and could not be happier. I've posted a review here as well as on my blog.

On here I set my goal weight. I think for my height and BMI number, the weight I want to reach is a good milestone for me both physically and especially emotionally. By surgeon however has this expectation that I should be about 40lbs lighter than my goal. I think it could be doable, with additional factors into play such as skin removal surgery. The problem is that I honestly don't know if I'll ever want to go through that surgery. This last surgery was very rough for me, and I did have some complications. I was under in that surgery for almost 4 hours. From what I've read and seen online, the skin removal surgery is an almost 8 to 10 hour procedure, and the recovery is long and very painful. Mentally I know right now I am not ready for that. And therefore I kinda have already known in my head that 180lbs might be only realistic to me if another surgery is involved. Do I want the other surgery??????

I'm doing great, the pain is normal for someone who had such extensive adhesions and hernia and the complication. I am not stuck on Full Liquids because of the pain or complications, this is what my doctor's office has for all his patients. The do not want to risk a leak and err on the side of caution. On Monday I go. I can only get down at the most 1/4 cup of soup and often times not even that much. I can get down 1/2 of a small dannon light & fit or healthy & whatever yogurt. I just keep craving pickles and Tuna. I cannot wait for Purees and on Monday they better advance me lol.

You are doing FANTASTIC! I think there is a general misconception that the weight will "simply melt off in enormous quantities" like in gastric bypass. It doesn't. Period. We are considered a success when we loose 1-2 lbs a week. You selected banding, which is MUCH healthier in the long run. And statistics have shown that while GB's will loose faster in the beginning, by year 3, bandsters have caught up AND are more successful at keeping the weight off long term. Plus we get the added advantages of: 1) No digestive issues - we do not loose any of our stomach! 2) We can have 'tune-ups' or a fill. GB have no such recourse. 3) Band is adjustable - no "one size fits all". It can be unfilled if necessary and re-filled as needed. 4) We learn to eat correctly long term as we journey to the Green Zone and IF WE CHOOSE to comply with our required eating plans, have a greater chance of long term success than GB's My Gastroenterologist told me he wanted to tell people who wanted GB to consider the number of new cases he got each year of people who had had GB and now were in serious or life threatening gastric situations (like cancer) and who seriously complicated his ability to help them. He was totally anti bypass, but very supportive of LapBand. All this to say, give yourself a break - you're doing fabulous!

I have been sleeved since Dec 2010 and my husband since March 2011. We are relocating from Birmingham, AZ to Phoenix, AZ (actually Sun City) in 2 weeks. We have had no complications but looking for a new doctor so that we will continue our yearly check ups and make sure that our Vitamin levels are were they are suppose to be. Any suggestions? Thanks. Kelly

I am looking for a surgeon that will give me some options for weight loss, I have been down this road a few times whether to get it done or not. I want to find a good surgeon in my area but I have found the better ones are a few hours away and I am worried about complications and me not being able to get back to him/her in a hurry if I need too. There are two in this area that I have visited and neither of them have outstanding surgical records and have not been rated that high, so I hate to settle with them. This may be a long shot but I am wondering if anyone is in my area or outside this area that could help.

Hi! I have about 7.5 cc's in my 10 cc band and still have VERY LITTLE restriction! I don't understand. Could there be something wrong with my band? I haven't had ANY complications at all. I had the band put in last September but have only managed to lose 40 lbs. He takes the fluid out and measures each time I get a fill so it's in there. I'm not sure what to do/think. Any advice would be much appreciated! Thanks!

Well I am packed and ready. Having another popsicle before bed. I am not nervous, but waiting for it to hit me. Please say an extra prayer for me and my fellow surgery buddies tomorrow! Hope the others that are going in tomorrow have a very easy, complication free procedure. Can't wait to hear from you all! Good Luck!

Hi all, I still have to take a PPI (omeprazole) 7 months after surgery. I have had zero complications to date and have slowly but surely been losing weight. My surgeon is a bit concerned that I still have to take the PPI otherwise I'll get reflux within 1-2 days. For the last week i'm also getting a sharp pain around my largest incision when i bend over. The surgeon asked that I get an upper endoscopy here in Canada (I had surgery in Mexico). Has anyone had to get an endoscopy after the healing period when there were no issues post surgery? Thanks!

So I did it!!! When I was banded my doctor said the average person losses between 40-50 pounds. I thought that was fantastic! I was 255 pounds and the thought of loosing 50 pounds was amazing. But it after I got the surgery I decided that I wanted to go all the way. I wanted to lose everything. It's been 9 1/2 years and I am 103 pounds!! I went from a size 22 to a size 0, from a 2x to a XXS. I went from, 'Sorry nothing fits you in this store because you're too big.' to 'Sorry nothing fits you in this store because you're too small.' I went from 52% body fat to 13% body fat. Am I happy? It took me a long time to be happy to be honest. I fought happiness every step of the way. I thought that I didn't deserve to be successful and thin. I stil had a mental image of my former self so it was a challenge accepting the new image in the mirror. It took a long time but I have accepted myself as I am now. I'm no longer afraid of being thin. (I was very afraid of becoming thin when I started this process. I used my fat to protect myself from the world. I felt safe being overweight- not happy, but safe.) But today I am very safe, because I am strong and accomplished! I realize now I worked hard for this outcome. For the the record I lost the weight walking every day, portion sizes, cutting out bread and sugar That's it, that's all. I have maintained the weight all this time doing the same things: I eat small meals and snacks often, and I drink tons of water. I never skip exercising either. I get up everyday at 5:30 and hit the road. It's not complicated, it just takes dedication. I didn't post this sooner because I have been waiting to see if this was just a fluke. Was I going to go back to my old ways in a few years? Plus for the past couple of years the feedback that I have received hasn't always been positive. Most people tell me to eat more instead of congratulations. Some people think that I have an eating disorder and they say really nasty things to me. But I figure those are the people that said nasty things about me when I was bigger; it's just that they said it behind my back instead of to my face. When you go from the biggest personin the room to the smallest person in the room things can get a little weird for other people, sometimes they flip out. I was the fat friend and the fat family member. I made people feel better about themselves. 'Oh, at least I'm not as bad off as Amy. Whew!' Where is their touch point now? But now I feel strong enough to post because damn it I worked really hard to accomplish my goal. I keep working hard to maintain it. I'm the one who passes up on the cake, cookies, and ice cream. I am the one who is up at the crack of dawn to exercise. I deserve to be proud of my accomplishments now. I did it! Yes, I reached my goal and more importantly I have been maintaining it for years. I did what I first thought was impossible. If you've done it too, then great job! If you're reading this for inspiration then please know this: I fell on my face so many times. I cheated and sabotaged myself but I always kept on trying. I never gave up. It was not easy. I used every support tool there was to get this done. I just kept being honest with myself and I kept going. I found the easiest thing to do for me and then just stuck with it. I also leaned a lot on my husband and daughter. Use everything you have to to get this done. You are worth it!

I am very sad and depressed right now.. half way through the six-month pre-bariatric program at my hospital, I finally met with the surgeon a month ago. He determined : 1) because I was still living on Prednisone for my Myasthenia Gravis, and had had surgical complications 4 years ago after an automobile accident left me with a perforated colon; and 2). a knee injury which left me in a wheelchair for 3 months this spring created DVT blood clots- that I was not a candidate for elective surgery at this time. I cried for days afterward. In my car, in the grocery store, in my art studio. I could not stop crying. I live with a rare neuro-muscular disease, and finally had to be placed on high dose steroids for it (100 mg/day) 19 years ago. Or should I say, 140 lbs ago? Steroids down to 10 mg/day now with IVIG infusions every 4 weeks. Evidently IV immunoglobin doesn’t effect surgical healing the way that Prednisone does. Dr. pointed out that even if I had been otherwise healthy, the DVTs alone would have postponed the surgery by 10-12 months. We made a loose date for reevaluation in June 2019, if my neurologist can get me off of the steroids completely six months prior by increasing the frequency of the IVIG doses. I was looking into this surgery 4 years ago right before the bus accident, and the possibility of finally having it got me through the multiple horrific resection surgeries. I am still eligible for the sleeve gastrectomy, but know that it will take fortitude to stick with the ‘non-surgical weight loss program’, rehab and exercising and prednisone tapering until my reevaluation in the Spring. It just feels like a dream slipping away, and I am having trouble staying motivated with my program. Has anyone else experienced surgical postponements for underlying medical conditions? Very much looking for motivation advice. Thank you.

Hi I had surgery on a Monday and was released that Wed, all the gas came out that Friday and I was walking and improving everyday, I do believe that I could have went back to work that Monday but I stayed home until I had my two week check up and then I return back to work. I have a very demanding job but I was ready for it. I had no complications and my husband and family were great. After my 6 week check up I was approved to exercise and I began exercising three times per week and then went up to 5 days per week. I have had no complications and no problems. Good luck and congrats on your choice on being healthy.

March 17th Sleever from League City. UTMB Dr. Gomez did my surgery and have been very satisfied with the care. Dr. Gomez has a lot of experience and I had zero complications! Down almost 100 pounds since I started the process. Couldn't be happier.

I'm going through the process of having a revision surgery. I lost 20 pounds with the lapband but I had complications. My surgeon told me that he can not perform the revision if my BMI was lower than 35. Long story short, I had to gained all my weight back and start from 0 in order to qualify for a revision surgery. I'm at 35.5 BMI right now and I have several health problems. My insurance and surgeon require documented lap-band complications and compliance with follow-up Lapband appointments (for the Lapband removal part), at least 35 BMI and 1 comorbidity, 6 months diet, pschy evaluation, documented active methods of weight loss (gym memberships, etc), 1 surgeon visit and 1 NUT visit. I'm submitting to insurance this week. I'm going to a center of excellence so their requirements are super strict. Every surgeon is different and I hope you can find one that help you through this process, good luck! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Just a shout out to you. It's my belief you may be a little too tight. An overly tight band can lead to some very serious band complications including, slips, erosion, dilation and dysphagia. I would advise you to seek out your surgeon and tell him/her exactly what you eat a day and how you feel?

I know that I will be moving slowly on my increase for the food intake since my surgery is more complicated, but I sure hope the broth works for me. I also find that the shakes, if I make them myself with almond milk, go down better, and stay down better, so I will be doing that for now. Surgery is on 9/16, xFatBoy how are you doing...any better?

So this coming August, my band will be 10years old crazy that it's been that long. I've had great weight loss but still haven't lost as much weight as I would like; that being said my doctor suggested having my band removed and considering another WLS......but idk. I'm kinda on the fence. And I was so nervous when I got the band put but nothing I know how to "deal with it" and unfortunately eating sauce with my Protein has become normal to keep from vomiting. Any advice? Suggestions? If I do get it removed I think I'd go with the sleeve as it has less complications..... I'm just so confused right now and quite disappointed that I haven't met my goal weight and it's been 10 years.... Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Yes, I took the shots 2x a day for 14 days. My surgeon said that I was a risk for blood clots because of my excess weight, birth control pills, and having surgery. I stopped taking my BC pills one month prior to surgery and resumed them one month after surgery. I had no complications, but was glad for the preventative measures since I have lost two dear friends to a pulmonary embolisms. I did have bruising on my stomach for weeks from the shots and hard spots but I massaged these daily and now, 10 weeks later, everything is fine.

i Wasn’t never high BMI but had lap band in Mexico and gave me complication só removed band on 12/15 and had sleeve just wondering if anyone else have this lower BMI and if you still loose after sleeve surgery?

Hello, I am new to this site. I am 40 years old with a BMI of 39.6. I have been overweight for most of my life, with the exception of high school and a couple of years after I was married. Right before my wedding, I had dieted down to 130 pounds with the help of Phen Fen. I had my daughter when I was 30 and gained over 60 pounds that I was never able to lose. In fact, the weight kept creeping up after that, and I now weigh about 10 pounds more than I did when I was full-term pregnant. I have been trying for the past 10 years to lose the weight, but I can only lose a little bit at a time, then I gain it all back plus more. You all know how it goes. I have lost and gained the same six pounds for the past year or so. I can never make any long term progress. I got fed up and started considering a lap band, because I thought that was the only option besides a gastric by-pass, which I am not willing to do. When I called Bluegrass Bariatrics, they suggested that I consider the gastric plication. They said they had had a lot of success with it, and it was the cheapest option, which makes a difference for me because my health insurance won't cover a dime. I've read all the posts here, and I am both excited about the prospect of having the surgery, and terrified all at the same time. I want my life back, I want to be able to do all the things that I can't or won't due because of my weight. Part of me still thinks this is ridiculous, that I should just be able to knuckle down and diet and exercise and lose the weight without any surgical intervention. But I've read the statistics, that only about 3-5% will actually succeed with this approach. I went to a seminar this past weekend and met Dr. Oldham. I really liked him, and he's gotten good reviews on this site. I have my intake appointment on 2/15, and when all those results are back, I will have my surgeon consult. I am going through the process, with the knowledge that I can still back out if the fear gets to be too much for me to go through with it. I am terrified of severe pain and complications, although I have been through a c-section with a vertical incision. My husband is also very scared for me to do this, and people keep telling me that I'm not big enough that I should be considering surgery. Is what I'm feeling pretty normal? I would love to hear from some others who have been through this, and also folks who have had their surgeries wiht Bluegrass Bariatrics. I am looking forward to talking with you all, and I thank you in advance for sharing your experiences with me.