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I am post-op april 10. on May 16 was told that the opening to my pouch is about the size of a coffee stir straw and on tomorrow may 21 am going in to have it stretched. my question is to any post-op person that has had this done have you ever had to have it redone? Does it stay open?

When I got my first fill last week (1/27), I was told I could have another fill in two weeks if I still felt I was in the yellow zone (hungry between meals, eating large portions, etc.). They just told me to wait one week to see how I feel first and then I could call and schedule the next fill for the next week. Yesterday, I was crazy hungry all day... may have something to do w/starting back at Jazzercise. So, I called this morning to schedule my second fill (thinking it would probably take them at least another two weeks to get me in). Well, I was very pleasantly surprised that they can do my fill next Wednesday, 2/10 (so exactly 2 weeks after my first). Yay!!! Its funny, when I tell my friends how I get stuck w/a needle and aren't supposed to eat for 72 hours after, they figure I would want to postpone as long as possible between fills. And, personally, I was a teensy weensy bit tempted to schedule this fill AFTER Valentine's Day since DH and I have reservations for a very nice dinner out. But, above anything else, I just want to get this show on the road. And, ultimately, this will be my life. I can still enjoy our V-Day dinner out, but savoring a small amount of food (maybe just getting an appetizer for my meal) rather than stuffing myself w/a 4 course meal. I am ready!!! I've been so happy w/what the band has done for me already, but I am eager to get it working to its full potential. :smile2:

I know a few who have had theirs 10 or 11 years, original band. Still working fine.

Yup really soft scrambled. I take 1 egg, whisk it really well. I then add ½tsp of greek yogurt and whisk that in. This helps keep them moist, but you can use a tiny bit of milk if you prefer. I also sprinkle just a little bit of shredded cheese. Then I either cook in a non stick pan on a low heat stirring constantly or I microwave for 1minute, stir and microwave for another 10 seconds if necessary.

Hi I was Banded on Sept 12th and I am like you I can feel it when I eat sugar free pudding or Jello. I also went to Target and bought me these 3oz plastic Solo cups they are like the ones you use in the bathroom for a small drink. Since I use them it helps me know how much Fluid I am putting in my body so that I do not over do it and get to full. I even use it for the jello or the cream of wheat. I have not once been sick or nauseated. I also just went to the doctor for my ten day check up and I lost 10 pounds and have already lowered my blood pressure. I also wanted to tell you about this Protein Drink I bought it is called Pro 5 and it is the best tasting Protein drink I have ever had it also mixes very well with a shaker cup with a cold bottle of Water and there are no clumps. So this is perfect if you are working. I mix it with 6oz of water then I have gotten in 34 grams of protein. You will have to look it up online and find out who distributes it in your area.

I use the unjury unflavored Protein mix and it goes in everything! I also like the Unjury chicken Soup protein mix. I am still on liquids. ... day 10 post op sleeve and love the chicken soup one!!!! Sent from my SM-J320F using the BariatricPal App

I am compelled to join and say the unjury choc splendor is literally the BEST Protein powder I have ever tried (and we've been through at least 10 others). Just ordered 2 more today. It tastes like chocolate milk, and is the only powder I've found that dissolves well. And no chalky protein taste. Literally none! I wish someone would have told me this before I wasted hundreds on other powders!

You can do it, but remember you want to be at a stable weight before having skin surgery. If that means you need to wait another month or 2, so be it. You dont want to lose 10 pounds before surgery to just put it back on and start stretching out the new skin.

I am the same way and I work 3 - 15 1/2 hr days a week on my feet most of it. My surgery was 4/10 I was back to work 10 days post-op. It wore me out.

Your 19 lbs loss is great Once you get into a routine you will see a steady weekly loss of anywhere from 1 lbs to 3 or 4. It all depends on how much you have to lose... I believe RNY you will lose 70-80% of your weight where the band and sleeve is something like 60% only.

So I had surgery on Monday 9/19 everything went well, I'm now day 5 out I'm feeling tons better gas pains come and go and mainly in my shoulders. My question is, since day 3 when I get up I have to hold my belly. One of my incisions next to my belly button feels like its pulling because of the weight of my belly. They gave me a belly binder to where and yea it does help for the most part but I have to wear it in order to not hold that part if my stomach ... Has anyone else had this problem and how long did it last ? TIA Sent from my SM-G935V using the BariatricPal App

Hello family, well my paperwork has been submitted to Aetna for approval to be sleeved. I called and Aetna has it as received on 10/18 and noted as "pending authorization". The very helpful service rep actually put me on hold today and called over to the authorization center to see if she could get any further information. They told her that all of my papers were in order, they just have to review all 29 pages. I am so excited and nervous all at the same time. Waiting is the pits (LOL)----we are such a microwave society---we really don't know how to wait for anything----we want everything now - instantly - well, at least in this instance I don't. I just want to get my "approved" so that I can rest easy. I am scheduled to be sleeved Nov 2nd and am scheduled to have my medical clearance process done Oct 26th. In my heart I know I'll be approved, but my mind has to catch up with my heart. After MANY years of fad diets (WW, Jenny Craig, Nutra System, Alli pills, Atkins diet, fasting, liquid diets and I could go on and on), I'm ready for my ultimate change. I'm ready!!! Pray for me that I remain positive and encouraged while I wait. Blessings2u--BJ

Hi, I am on day 5 of this 2 week diet (surgery on 10-2-11 with Doctor Marema of Flagler, St Augustine hospital. He has done over 5000 bariatric surgeries and helped develop the "spider". His diet is as follows: Breakfast: 8oz skim or 1%milk, 1/2 Protein shake, 4oz fruit Mid-morning: 1 Protein Drink Lunch" 6-8oz low fat, light yogurt, 4oz vegetable or fruit Afternoon: 1oz nuts or 2 tbsp Peanut Butter, or 1/2 cup Beans or hummus, and 4oz vegetable or fruit Dinner: 4oz lean protine (meat), 4oz vegetable with1 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 whole grain starch or 1 slice whole grain bread Evening: 8oz skim or 1% milk, 1/2 protein drink, 4oz fruit 100 oz of free liquid (chicken broth, Water, crystal light etc.) Fiber and protein supplements count toward your 100 oz of liquids. Also several different Vitamins as well as 5 grains of fiber supplement are required. His nurse said I didn't have to follow the order eactly. I could adjust it to my lifestyle. I'm not saying you should do this,as your Dr knows you best. But I trust my doctor and his diet seems to be less restrictive, (I don't know what else is on your diet). Anyway, I hope this helps. Keep in touch as I am not that far ahead of you. God Bless

I know that some people are required to do a pre-op diet, but it seems like everybody is losing weight before they have the surgery and Im confused as to why. Am I the only person that feels the need to eat everything in the world that I may never be able to eat or not like anymore after the surgery? I know the surgery is not a quick fix and I have to get my eating habits under control and all that, so it is like I am having a final farewell to food that I actually enjoy, as I feel it will no longer have a place in my new life, or my tiny sleeve. Did anybody else go through this? I had lost a bunch of weight because I was on medifast but the idea of eating that to the day of my surgery was unbearable, especially given the number of people that cant eat bread and rice. Obviously since I have stopped that I have gained weight (about 10 lbs) and I have started drinking again but I have decided to quit that because Id rather eat the calories and for some reason drinking has not been nearly as enjoyable post medifast. Anybody else on a bit of a binge preparing for their surgery?

I was sleeved on February 19 and there are a few foods that I have issues with one is pork chops and another is french fries. Everyone is different. My tastes have changed somewhat. My wife gets frustrated at me because she does not know what to cook any more. It is not because I can not eat those foods, but some things just do not sound good to me in my head. I have had some pasta and tolerated that fine. I have had rice in a small portion and had no issues.

I am currently on medicaid awaiting an answer as to whether or not I am going to get disability. I am 27 yrs old. I am married and I have a 10 yr old daughter. I currently weigh 379 lbs and I am 5"0" . I have been diagnosed with morbid obesity, CHF , sleep apnea , gall bladder disease, and I am on 3 liters of oxygen. I am currently under the care of the care of my primary care physician and he suggested the lap band precedure for long term weight loss... I feel that without this surgery I will be cheated out of a normal life .. I am desperate .. please help....

That moment where you had your first “oh wow life really is different now? “ Yeah I had that this weekend. I’m on day 10/11 in the post op liquid phase (and struggling but that’s a different post). I had to go buy belts for my pants because they were getting droopy. First time for that. First time hanging out with friends and while it’s not unusual for us to bring our own foods because of what ever diet/ gastric thing one of us is dealing with. I literally smelled food and that while that smells good I really don’t want any (grilled burgers). Like literally didn’t have the feed me now response I was so used to. I was content with my blended soup and jello I brought. First time for that. One of my friends commented on how much brighter/upbeat I seemed too. Next first: The Mr and I went out for errands and are finished the night up with a show. I put on a shirt and it just felt weird and baggy. This was a shirt I have like two or three of and a month ago wore regularly. I actually went and changed to into something less baggy. While out and about we had time to kill and went to one of our favorite restaurants. I knew I could get an awesome soup that the broth would be tasty and would blend up nicely once I got home. I ate really slow and barely made a dent. I think I was full (still figuring that part out) and stopped to get the rest to go. I also laughed when they gave me this big ole soup spoon that I knew was bigger than I should have per bite and instead used the teaspoon. A couple more firsts there. I know I’m going to lean on these NSV for the eventual plateau. What were some of your firsts?

I don't consider it "cheating" I consider it living. Think of what you used to eat. I could eat 2 corn dogs, probably all the fries, frozen lemonade and want desert later. You might have eaten a 1/10 if that. We have to get past feeling guilty, we can't live with that for the rest of our lives. As long as you are eating as prescribed (high protein, low carb) 98% of the time and exercising I say go for it. Have a smidge of junk. You can't stay so rigid for ever, that's what makes us snap. Remember all our other "diets". Don't know about you but mine usually failed when I had been depriving myself for so long and I just snapped. I broke my cycle and no longer think that way.

I have not had vsg yet but that is my plan and hope at this point . I have one ore month of supervised weight loss & then should be on my way . While having my Egd the doc said I had signs of avid acid reflux. This was new to me, I very rarely had any issues, only when I was pregnant. (3years ago). He then put me on med. for this "problem". I then within a week of taking this me started having indigestion like crazy and have felt awful ever since. I also was told during my stomach ultra sound that I have gallstones in the neck of my gallbladder . I felt like crap ever since they went fishing around doing these test. I had a attach of some sort the other day while eating dinner ( baked pork & carrots ) horrible chest pain, back pain between shoulders , hot flashes, nausea, dry heeves felt like something was stuck. Horrible pain! Went to ED, they gave me a GI cocktail and zofran. With in 10 min. I felt much better. Called the gastro doc next day & they switched me to nexium. I still have mild pain on left side of chest when I take deep breaths. And after I eat. Most psin is on left side of chest, right under sternum, and left side of stomach / abdomen . I am worried that my surgeon will say no to the sleeve due to this new issue. Anyone have issues like this before or after the surgery? So frustrated & I am so close to the finish line that I'm afraid of everything going wrong at this point. :/

JAN. 19, 2011 - WEDNESDAY - DAY 2 POST OP - WELL I FINALLY GOT A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP! HOME IN MY OWN BED. I ACTUALLY SLEPT THROUGH THE WHOLE NIGHT. I SURE NEEDED THAT! WOKE UP STILL IN ALOT OF PAIN IN CHEST AND LEFT SHOULDER. I NEED TO WALK ALOT TODAY TO TRY TO GET SOME MORE OF THE GAS PAINS OUT. I HAVE NOT TAKEN ANY PAIN MEDS SINCE I HAVE BEEN HOME OTHER THAN CHILDREN'S LIQUID TYLENOL. ONLY PROBLEM WITH THAT IS - I BOUGHT THE BUBBLE GUM FLAVORED UNKNOWINGLY AND IT IS AWEFUL SWEET. YUK. I AM SURE PROB HAS A TON OF CALORIES IN IT TOO. LOL. BUT IT WORKS AND IT IS OVER THE COUNTER AND NON NARCOTIC SO IT DOESN'T MAKE ME FEEL OUT OF IT!!! I HATE THAT FEELING! I GET TO TAKE MY OUTER BANDAGES OFF TODAY AND TAKE A SHOWER. YEH! I AM A LIL SCARED THOUGH AS I AM STILL VERY TENDER. BUT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO DO SO OTHERWISE YOUR WOUND SITE WILL GET INFECTED. I HAD SOME THINNED DOWN CREAM OF WHEAT FOR BREAKFAST AND SOME HOT TEA. TASTED GOOD. I WILL BE HAVING MY PROTEIN SHAKES FOR THE REST OF MY MEALS TODAY. THAT'S ABOUT IT! I LEARNED THAT YOU DON'T USUALLY LOSE ALOT OF WT. RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE OF THE SWELLING AND HEALING PROCESS GOING ON IN YOUR TUMMY - BUT ONCE THAT IS OVER YOU LOOSE QUICKLY!!! SO YOU HAVE TO BE PATIENT! GOOD TO BE HOME!!!!

This is exactly what I needed to read! I have been gaining and losing the same 3 pounds over the past 2 1/2 weeks. I will be six weeks post op Tuesday. I don't know if I am depressed or just having too much fun with an I dont care attitude, but I really screwed up this weekend. Had about 10 glasses of wine, a few tequila shots, a bloody mary, hotlinks, crunchy tacos.... Yeah, it was a fun filled weekend by the pool, but I lost control. I will be doing protein shakes this week to get back on track. Thanks for your post.

Hi Everybody, I'd like to report that I just got my first fill this morning. After I went into the doctor's office, I told the nurse that how much I have been eating at every meal. She laughed and said "yes, you do need a fill". The PA asked me to lie on my back on the table, bump up my tummy then lift up my head. It was like doing an exercise. She then rubbed my tummy and found the port. My port is actually located right above the big incision (only 0.25 inch from the incision, very close) She pushed the needle in (it hurt a bit, felt like a sting) and moved up and down for a minute trying to locate the port access point. It hurt a little when she was moving the needle up and down, but it was bearable. Finally she found it. She gave me 4.4 cc to a 9cm realize band. She said that my port just sucked all the saline in. I was told that my band could hold maximum 11 cc of saline. The entire procedure took about 10-15 minutes. So it was not as scary as I thought before. My stomach felt a little different than before after drinking one cup of water. It felt a little like after the surgery. But I wasn’t burping or feeling nausea. So she released me. She also told me to stay on liquid for two days then soft food for another two days. Then I could go back to regular food. I know that 4.4 cc is pretty aggressive comparing to most of the first fills that I read in this forum. Hopefully it would work out fine. I bought 2 cases of EAS brand protein shake (coffee with caramel flavor). It tastes much better than what I had before. I drank half carton down, I was not hungry anymore.

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It does depend on the insurance company. I had to do all requirements then submit to insurance and get approval. Once I got approval then made appointment with surgeon who I see Sept 10 and surgery is scheduled for Oct 7. Just keep on doing what needs to be done. As far as the sleep study, I already have sleep apnea and CPAP machine so all I had to do was get copy of study sent to surgeon's office. Good luck.