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Yesterday I had my first meeting with my surgeon to discuss what surgery to get we both agreed that the gastric sleeve would be the best fit scheduled my sonogram and the scope next week. Still have to schedule my psychiatric evaluation. 54 days left in my 90-day medically managed weight loss program final day of that is July 27th hopefully before then I'll have all my pre-surgery guidelines completed and we can submit documentation to my insurance and get a surgery date this is all happening very fast I feel like but still so far away I'm just ready to be the me that I was supposed to be. Sent from my LGMS631 using the BariatricPal App

You can eat burritos and burgers - although it's not advisable to eat the roll (or even the tortilla) until you have been through the weight loss period. You can have the refried Beans, cheese, etc as soon as your allowed purees or soft food so that will help you not to feel deprived. The quantity of your meals will be very small so you'll need to concentrate on Protein first. The only things suggested to stay away from long-term (forever) on my plan is bread, Pasta and rice. I'm surprised you haven't already received this info from your surgeon with a surgery so soon. Best of luck!

These stalls are just madding. For 2 weeks now I have not lost a pound, but have managed to gain 4 pounds. I am retaining fluid like crazy, my feet, legs, and arms are so puffy and when I take off my socks and shoes the indents are big. I hate these stalls I get so down on myself and start to worry about not losing another pound. I make my self crazy with counting calories and how much I drink it is to the point that I keep a log of how I feel when I eat and the time that I eat. It has become an obsession for me. I need to stop the merry go round and get off. Losing weight is so important to me, I need to lose it so I can live I know I didn't put it on over night and it will take time but time is what I don't have a lot of. I just keep praying that the weight loss gives me more time to lose more weight. There is such a big push for me to reach that 100lbs gone so that I will quit smoking I think that has been detrimental for me. I want to quit I'm just not ready to. I smoked for 9 years then quit when I learned I was pregnant, then started again until I was pregnant again then started back again, that was 29 years ago. I know that I would feel better but it's just the fact someone is telling me I have to quit. Maybe if it was my idea and my time line it wouldn't be so bad. So I'm thinking if I start the process now of quitting it will take the pressure off me and I don't have to worry about that 100lb mark. Day by Day Step by Step with Jesus is what I pray for me today.

vickyt i write like i talk causing longer posts - so if you have time..... i've heard alot of people say with much excercise during your weight loss and after, you can help prevent some excess skin, tighten it up. younger you are the more resiliant you will be. I naively thought i wouldn't have any sagging skin. Unfortunately my skin is sagging back of my thighs and rear end and face I never wear a bathing suit (except in the shower) so only one who will see me is DH. I'm realizing now as i put smaller clothes on - i.e. blue jeans, regular pants, that I need to be zipped up over the the excess skin, and this must be tucked into the pants, which now would have to be a larger size cuz you have to pull the pants over the excess skin tummy. This makes the pants unpreportional to your body. i'm really not sure i said this right, but you might understand what i am trying to say. I know there are "things" you can order online, buy to pull in the tummy whatever - not really in favor of those for my own reasons. But i've heard they are wonderful for many, many others kathy

From what i understand, it takes a while for your body to start burning fat, simply because it goes into "starvation" mode after surgery because you are consuming so much less calories than you were before the surgery .. my weight loss has been steady from about 11 days post op... i am now 18 days post-op. hang in there with the rest of us :cursing:

I started a new job 4 weeks post surgery. I dropped a size about every six weeks on average, but tried to stretch it out with belts, adjustable dresses, etc. I joined gwynnie bee until I sized out of it (it's like netflix for clothes). I found a lot of good stuff at thrift stores, surprisingly. You will feel ok to start the job, but you will need help lifting the baby, particularly in and out of the car. You can do this! I am a big stinkin wuss who failed at every diet and this works! You have time to get your food back on track, maybe try a low to moderate carb plan to wean of processed stuff a bit. One thing I was glad I did was to quit diet coke a month before. It sounds stupid to admit, but that was really hard for me, and I wanted to be over it before coping with surgery. I did take all the Vitamins and Biotin but still lost hair, but some don't. I can disguise hair loss better than I could extra chub. Good luck! Keep your eyes on the prize!

Big Opie u may as well take the Big out of your name because you won't be there long. See yourself at the end of your weight loss journey. You will get those 136 pounds off and are already making strides toward that end.

Put blinders on. I ran into a lot of problems along the way with my insurance. They did very unusual things. I went through a 6 month medically monitored weight loss program. They paid for my doctor visit for the first month but not the second month. When I asked them why they didn't pay, they said weight loss is not covered by my plan. They paid for the 3rd month visit but not the 4th. I contacted my insurance and they said they made a mistake but not to worry, they would not ask me to repay them. They paid for the 5th visit but not the 6th. I just put blinders on and charged ahead. I figured this was just some game the insurance companies played to make sure I was really committed to this process. If you encounter roadblocks, just keep trying to go forward, until they give in.

Hello, everyone! I hope 2016 has been treating you well thus far! I am here tonight to request your experiences/advice with my current situation. A quick overview of where I'm at in the process: tomorrow I have an ultrasound of my gallbladder and liver. The 13th I have my EGD and a follow up appointment with my surgeon on the 20th. I completed my 6 month attempted weight loss in December, so my file should be ready to submit by the end of this month or early in February. With that being said...here's my problem: Since June, I have treated this surgery as if I have already been given the thumbs up by insurance. I have spent countless hours researching every aspect of this surgery. This site has been a God send. I simply want to be as prepared as possible. But as I approach the end of this [ridiculously] long process, I've become more aware of the possibility of denial. I meet all requirements, but I am also fully aware of insurance and how difficult they can be (yes this surgery is in my plan). And now my nerves are through the roof. I've spent 7 months preparing for something that may never take place. I know that I shouldn't get myself worked up over something that hasn't happened. But my biggest concern is how I will react *IF* insurance denies me. I know I can appeal and resubmit. But I've read plenty of stories of patients who did that and we're still denied. So, I basically feel as if I've prepared for the best case scenerio without any consideration for the worst. I'm hoping that any of you can offer some advice to help me relax as this chapter comes to a close. Did you experience this same anxiety? How did you handle it? Were you denied on your first attempt? How was the appeal process for you? I have faith that what is meant to be, will be. But I can't bare to think about the disappointment I will endure, should this not go through. Thank you in advance!

I originally went to my surgeon with thoughts of the band in my head, but after learning about the sleeve I knew it was for me. I am married to a Marine, and we move every three years so I knew that the required permanent aftercare (fills, unfills) would get tiresome. Also, after I learned about the port and the possible problems with the band I became worried about the foreign object I was going to put in my body. Anyway, I had my sleeve done exactly two weeks ago, and I am feeling great! I had absolutely no pre-op diet (my "last meal" was actually KFC) and I have lost 16lbs so far. I do not feel hungry or have an acid problem. The first four days were hard as I had problems with nausea and headaches and dehydration, but after I crossed the week mark I was feeling pretty good. Now I am getting my water and protein in and able to walk a mile a day on the treadmill. Deciding which surgery is best for you is very personal, but I honestly think the sleeve has less problems and complications and better weight loss. __________________ Originally posted at www.lapbandtalk.com

I am so excited to begin this new part of my weight loss journey!! Had my RNY 10/29/12 lost about 100 pounds. My fleur de lis is scheduled for july 15th! In just 3 weeks!! I was approved for this through my insurance BCBS Highmark of WV PPO.

Some of the people in my coffee group have experienced this. Some suggestions... try not eating past 7:00 p.m. Drink a large glass of Water 2 hours before you go to bed. (Helps flush out the band. I suffered from acid reflux since I was 14. I was 39 when I was banded. My acid reflux went away 3 days after I was banded.... I lived on Tums and was on two prescription meds. I have not had ANY acid reflux in over 6 years. You may also want to try a tiny defil. I hope you get some relief. Good luck Tom, Toronto Banded July 6 06 Wt. Loss: 156 lbs

Oh man, I had a break like that a dozen years ago. I hope it isn't your dominant arm. Heal well! About five months before surgery, I just started out tracking my intake. I use Sparkpeople, some folks prefer Myfitnesspal. My intention was accountability, not weight loss. I also started weighing daily because during parts of my life where I'd been more successful, that was a practice that worked for me. I'd already decaffeinated years ago. Some people use this time to ease off carbonated drinks, caffeine, or trigger foods. It's an excellent time in your life to take a good look inside, and explore whether you're an emotional eater (I wasn't). If you are, start now to develop some self-care techniques so that when emotions come up and you can't use food to soothe yourself, you can still cope. Other people use this time to start moving and changing other habits that get in the way of postop success. This can be a really fruitful time in your life. Oh, and remember that if you're healing a fracture, you actually need a bit more Protein and calories for healing.

As others have stated, it is simply a matter of keeping Water with you all the time. At 2 months post-op, carrying a water bottle and sipping regularly has just become second nature. I don't even think about it, I just do it. I buy cases of water in 16.9 oz bottles at costco. They come out to about 10 cents per bottle. It tastes much better than my tap water or even filtered water, and I can put a Crystal Light packet in if I want. When I'm done it goes in the recycle bin at home or work. I'm up to 5 a day at this point, or just over 80 oz. The point being, whatever you decide to do, it quickly just becomes part of your routine. I no longer have to remind myself to drink, it just happens. Plus, extended weight loss will reduce your risk of kidney stones.

Thanks for the Support and Those who didnt Support!! I wish all of you success on your weight loss Journey!!

the first 4-6 wks is a healing time and not really a weight loss time ( althought its feels great to loos that soon) we all float up and down 5 or so lbs every day that's why you weight on the same sacale and the same time always to get the right weight loss figure.....I know you want to loss but you have and more is coming be patient boy do we all know how hard this is in the beginning......line dancerr

I am Catherine. I am new to this bored, and scared and nervous and happy, and pretty much any emotion you can have all at the same time I have recently started my journey of weight loss surgery. Right now, I am meeting with the dietitian and the mental health professionals and the like. Next month, I will be able to schedule my next appointment with the surgeon. I am currently 451 lbs, and down four pounds since my initial visit. Anyone else starting their journey? Anyone been there and have success. Anyone been there and failed?

Has anyone's DR given them a weight loss goal (like 10 pounds) before surgery or they wouldn't do the surgery? Mine said 10 but tomorrow is my weigh in and I think I will be at 9?

I've been dehyrdrated since week one when I took 4 iv bags of Fluid right in the dr's office...I'm going on week ten....I just can't drink alot & struggle with getting Water & milk down...I work on it every day...but not doing a good job. Keep working on it. It is so important for your weight loss & skin & just how you feel. Best of luck to you!

I have A-Fib and take Metoprolol twice a day. Since my surgery and slow weight loss I have had very few issues. I still take my meds, but don't worry about it. That racing irregular heart beat is very scary.

I had my sleeve same day! Sleeve sister! Great weight loss!

Never had these wrinkles on forehead and under chin... They say its from weight loss... So i never use lotion onface Sent from my LGLS676 using BariatricPal mobile app

Happy Sunday I know that hair loss differs from person to person. I'm hoping not to have to much hair loss. With that being said, I'm thinking keeping pressure of my hair like ponytails,weaves, and long extended breads will help. What are some methods others use also how long did the transition last?

Wow, that REALLY stinks....... I was born premature and had underdeveloped lungs and as a result had asthma for a lot of my childhood that had me in and out of the hospital. So while it's been a while since I have had anything as bad as you (I don't get attacks any more, I just have a smoker's cough as a result of the asthma nowadays - something I am praying will go away after weight loss) I can sort of relate. At least, to the whole feeling of that stuff. Anyways, I am sorry to hear this. I'm glad to hear everything went okay as far as the scans though - at least now you can put the thoughts out of your head. And yeah it SUCKS to think you're this close and it could be delayed... but don't think that way yet! You never know... When is your pre-op appt? Can you just call the surgeon's office and get their opinion? I know it's easier to say this but it IS better to be at 100% for the surgery. Then again, I also know you were venting so that's all I will say on that. :thumbup: The Bandito tribe will be crossing our fingers for you (yes, I totally just spoke for the group :laugh:) for good news!!!!! Let us know what happens. Amy

This is my story Hi everyone I am a 37 year old man and I have remortgage my house so that I can have a gastric lap band that I get on the 10th of November in London. I am nerves and scared but I no that am killing my self being this weight. My mum died at 47 with a cancer that the Dr said was an obese cancer. I don’t what the same for me. I have been over weight since I was 10. And have done every diet that there is. At least ones but I have done some more than 10 times. well i went my surgery on the 15th of November as was cancelled on the 10th I also had travelled to Chichester and could tell you about the day had my operation and what happened I hope this helps people. Hi everyone well and home safe and sound and still very sore but I'm glad it's over. When I arrived at the hospital on Wednesday morning I was told I was first on the list I had blood taken my medical history taken, had enough time to change in to the pyjamas then the anaesthetist turned up he was fantastic. He listened to everything I told him and told me not to worry. Then I was told that Mr Somers was stuck in a traffic jam and they did not know when I was going to go down . Lucky for me it was only 15 minutes and he was in my room. He asked me lots of questions and reassured me that I was making the best decision of my life. As soon as he left the nurse said it was time to go down to the operating room. I was very nervous couldn't stop shaking my leg, there was no going back. Couldn't work out why I could not stick to a diet and that I could die was all that was going through my head. I almost started to cry even as I write this it reminds me of the way I felt and makes me cry. When I got to the operating room the anaesthetist was waiting for me He made sure that I did not hang around when they were putting me to sleep, he gave me a pre-med as we got into the operating room and I don't remember anything until I woke up. The next thing I remember I was in recovery room. The first thing I noticed was I needed to pee, I looked down and saw a catheter I did not expect to see it. I asked the nurse why I had one and he said I would see the doctor soon. About 30 minutes later the anaesthetist came to see me and said there had been complications and I had to have open surgery. I was not sure what he meant, he said my liver was so big that when they tried to reach my stomach it ripped part of my diaphragm and they could not have fitted the band . He and Mr Somers had decided that if I had been awake I would have asked them to go ahead and open me up. (AND THEY WERE RIGHT) I had been bruised and battered about a bit around my kidneys and they wanted to make sure that they were working properly that's why they fitted the catheter. I asked him if I could have it taken out (I hated it) he said yes. Within 15 minutes of it being removed I was more comfortable. But he said that if I could not go to the toilet on my own that they would have to refit it. I went down to theatre at 9 a.m. I was taken up to my room about 3 p.m. I was allowed to drink water, I was still very uncomfortable but nothing I could not cope with. About 5 p.m. my surgeon Mr Somers came to see me, he asked me how I was and told me that I was the first person after four hundred surgeries of this kind he has done he has ever had to revert to open surgery. He said I gave his hand pins and needles because he had to try and put the band in using one hand, he said my liver was one of the biggest has ever seen and that it covered most of the front of my stomach. He said I was the reason he had gray hair! He also asked me how my pain was; I was given morphine and told to take things very easy. Later that night I was worried that I had not been to the toilet and knew if I could stand up I would be able to go so I asked the nurse if I could have a bottle I got out of bed and spent the next 15 minutes trying to go, I did! Thank God I would not have to have that catheter in. I spent much of the first night awake. In the morning Mr Somers came to see me again as did the anaesthetist. They checked my drugs to make sure they were working. I was allowed out of bed to have a wash, the pain was quite severe I was feeling very sick. When I got back to my chair and as the nurse arrived I started to be sick. I was terrified that I might split open. Every time I was sick a lot of air came out and nothing else. This happened for about a minute. What a relief, most of the severe pain I had was caused by air. And because I had a very tight restriction the air could not get past the band with out me being sick. The rest of the day was spent in and out of bed and changing my pain medication to one that suited me more. In the end i settled for volterol and tramodol they worked best for me. At lunchtime I had half a plate of soup and jelly and drunk lots of water Cranberry juice and oasis juice. I can feel the liquid going through my band it bubbles very weird sensation I had soup and jelly for tea as well. I slept better that night but wanted to go home. Mr somers came to see me in the morning and said I could go home as long as I had someone to look after me which I do. Stuart picked me up and it took us five hours to get home. I have never seen rain like it it was horrible I could not wait to get into bed. I slept so much better in my own bed and the next morning today when I woke I felt a lot better. If there's one thing I wish i had taken it would have been the windeze. That's what caused me the most pain, if it hadn't been for another lady called Sam having the same operation as me I would not have had any till I got home. Also if they give you pain killers make sure thay are not dissolved ones that fizz in water they just make it worse. Make sure you stir them till the fizz is gone. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10/12/06 Im glad i had you all to help me and thanks to you all for asking after me. I hope Carol is going to be ok i did think about you in the middle of all that and still am. It has taken me all day to write this i hope it makes sense. One thing I would like to make clear is I did not stick to my pre-op diet as I don't like yoghurt I was told I could do a 1200 cal diet a day. Even with the diet I would have probably had to have open surgery But I was just very unlucky I have a very large liver. so to all the people that the message to me worrying about the operation been cancelled don't out of 400 operations my surgeon has done laparoscopic I was the first one to have to revert to open surgery. And to tell you the truth I'm not feeling that bad considering. I do feel I was very lucky to have the surgeon I did I would have been devastated if I had woken up and he hasn't done the band. I guess I'm very lucky as I have someone at home and don't need to go back to work for as long as I like. I am self-employed. my surgeon was a right gentleman he really knows how to look after his patients and I believe that if it had been anybody else I would not have my band in you would think he was paying me to say all this but I can't thank him enough. And you for all your support thank you. 10/12/06 Hi everyone how are you all? Isn't it funny how we have all stopped worrying so much, and trying to live with our bands? Not posting so much on the website well I'm still here learning how it works, what I can eat and what I can't eat. What it means when you regurgitate the last mouthful of food, how easy it is to cheat and drink at the same time as you eat and how I automatically look for ways of cheating. For instance I never was one to eat crisps but because someone said they melt in your mouth I ran out and bought a pack of 12 and ate 6 of them all on the same night! It has now almost been four weeks since my operation and I still have lost one stone but I find I don't have much restriction. I am determined that I will not put the stone back on before I get my first fill. I had discomfort up until about a week ago almost like being winded. I think maybe because I had open surgery I was a bit more bruised but nothing I could not handle. I think I'm very lucky as I'm my own boss so I don't need to lift or move anything. Or do anything strenuous. I like the fact that I have a port and I can feel it every time I put my hand on my side and I do every time I laugh or cough. . I have noticed that I am not eating the quantity of food that I did before I had my band, but I still get hungry more ad more as the day goes on. I can't eat foods like cold chicken or cold ham. Any kind of cold meat is difficult to swallow but I can still eat a good size meal so I am looking forward to my first fill. I get it on the third of January Something else that I have noticed is that people who know that I had a band fitted keep asking me if I'm losing weight yet and I feel a little bit of a failure because I have not lost much more than I did a week after my operation. I have started telling them that is not switched on yet as it's easier than trying to explain how it all works. So I told them that it gets switched on the 3rd of January and it seems to work. Next Saturday the 16th I'm going to be meeting up with the group from the weight loss web site in Bristol for Christmas dinner and I am really looking forward to that. I am lucky once again as I have decided to go away for the first time in my life for Christmas and New Year. I am going to New York and have booked eight Broadway shows to go and watch as well so I don't have to be cooking Christmas dinner this year. I'm really excited about it. And one thing I know about New York is they know how to do good soup and you can get it at almost any corner. I don't get back to Bristol till 8 a.m. on the third of January and I get my first fill at 12 noon on the same day, cant wait. Well good luck everyone over the next three weeks because we need it with all the chocolate, Christmas puddings, sweets, biscuits and all the things that make us slightly rounded there to tempt as. Resist, resist, resist, resist. And I hope we all have a losing Christmas and Santa is good to you all. Merry Christmas everyone. Take care, --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------22/09/07 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I WROTE THIS ON THE 01/05/2007 A LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE THEN AND I WILL WRIGHT IT ALL OUT FOR YOU TO READ SOON . AND I AM VERY SORRY FOR NOT GETTING BACK TO EVRYONE THAT EMAILD ME I HOPE TO SOON I HAVE NOT LOST ANYMORE IM STILL BIG AND FAT IM 128 KG SO I HAVE PUT ON 8.7 KG. Hi everyone here I go again trying to remember everything that has happened to me since the first week in January first of all let me apologise to all those who have e-mailed me asking me how I am. I am dyslexic and find it very difficult to write without the use of my computer at home. I have been in a Australia for the last six weeks. ( Lucky me ) Everywhere I went over there they knew all about gastric bands and everybody I met knew someone who had had one it works out that they have been doing it for over 10 years and you can get a fill for as little as $60 that’s about £25 as you are covered under their Medicare system. Ok I went to up to see the dietician at the hospital group on the 3rd of Jan and to have my first fill to be honest the dietician did not tell me anything I did not know. I was sent to the BUPA hosp about 20mins away from there to have a barium meal and x ray and to get my 1st fill I was nervous as hell they asked me to change into a dressing gown which didn’t fit. you would think they would have dressing gowns for big people . Anyway I had nothing to worry about the doctor that did my first fill find the port very easy and put five Mils in . I also used emla cream which numbs the skin around the port so i didn’t even feel the needle (big baby ) I couldn’t wait to see if I had any restriction but I knew I had to leave it a few days before I try to eat anything other than soups and sloppy stuff . I was finding it very hard because I was so hungry and sneaked down to the kitchen on about the 5th day and had myself if sandwich and the a bowl of soup I managed it without any problems. I find I could eat large amounts of food without any restriction but certain foods made me sick like cold meat or chicken and chips but I didn’t eat many before anyway. I was getting very depressed because I thought after my first fell I would not be able to eat as much as before on the Saturday evening after this I went to my first support meeting of the weight loss surgery website and met some very interesting and friendly people who all had gone through weight loss surgery of some sort. They told me to stop worrying and that sometimes it takes 3,4,5 fills before you get a decent restriction and I was worrying over nothing I left there feeling so much better (thanks guys and girls) It really does make a difference when you have people to help you and I have gone through the same thing. I booked my next appointment to have a fill and that was the 23rd of January one week before I went to Australia . I arrived at the hospital group near Birmingham and was met by some very nice friendly staff a nice lady called Tony took me in to a room and had a chat she told me to be patient and to remember that the band is a tool to help you lose weight. And that I need to work with it. It worked out she was the one who was going to give me my second fill i jumped up on the table and she got it first time I believe she put in 1 ½ mils and then told me to go into the waiting room and have a few drinks. It was just as well as I could not get the water down so I had to go back in and she took out ¾ back out. Had another drink and everything worked properly. In the next couple of days I take things easy and only drunk soup and sloppy food. On the 20th I flew to Hong Kong where I ate lots of soup and noodles when I got to Sydney a week later I found I had lost another kg I decided when I was Australia that I would start going to the gym every other day for four weeks I went to the gym also started to realise that I could not eat certain foods without me being sick things like beef steak and chips burgers most things fried apples oranges peaches and watermelon I find hard to eat.. The gym I went to in Sydney was on third-floor. With no lift so you had to walk up five flights a stares by the time I got to the top I was so out of breath that I couldn’t speak to the receptionist. So I would make sure that there was no one behind me before I would start to climb the Stares just so I could stop one flight down to catch my breath. So I did not feel embarrassed when I got to the top four weeks later when I left I could almost run upstairs and still have my breath at the top. The day before I flew back to the UK I weighed myself I was 120 kg that means I have lost 20 kg since January the 23rd not bad but it has been hard I have good days and bad days sometimes bad weeks like this one I feel I can eat anything and have no restriction then out of nowhere I eat some omelette or shepherd’s pie and I’m full halfway through it. Are starting to find it very difficult as I work for myself and leave the house at eight in the morning and sometimes don’t get home until midnight one o’clock I can’t cook for myself and have to rely on a Café around the corner from me and I have knot been to the gym for 10 days now. I weighed myself this week and have lost three more kg so that means I have lost 23 kg so I guess I’m losing 1 kg a week that’s fine with me it’s great that my smallest shorts and now my biggest and the belt I ware is to big and I have had to put two new holes in it. J SHAUN 17/10/2007 i have put back on 17 kg and am having a bad time but i will sit down and wright :ranger:it all out over the next week and post it :whoo: