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hi cinnamon did you have this done yet? i and schedualed on oct 19 at angeles also getting plication with the green zone i have not seen anyone else who has had this.

Yea, me too... all my adult life this has been a problem but even more so over the last 6mths (been sleeved 10 1/2 mths now) ... I've just bought benefibre.... been adding it to my tea and coffee since Sat I still haven't been... I hate it 'cos I start to feel sluggish!! Fingers crossed it will kick in soon...

I agree with the above - the acids in the caffeine can be damaging to your new tummy. I was cleared for real coffee at my 6 week post-op visit. I'm glad I had to be caffeine free prior to surgery - I had serious withdrawals when I first stopped drinking it and had to ween myself off for a week. I'm 10 months post-op now and enjoy between 2 and 4 cups of coffee a day, back to normal!

Hi Nicole, My insurance required 6 months of weight loss, exercise, and classes. After exactly 6 months I have been able to submit my results to the insurance co. I have already jumped through a lot of hoops for this procedure and I don't have a surgery date yet. I'm praying for a December surgery. I submitted on Thursday 10/27. I look forward to walking this journey with you, Gina

Oop, I was banded on 10/12/16. I had my first band fill of 3 cc on 11/15/16. It will have my second band fill on 12/27/16. I expect I will receive my third in late January. I look forward to reaching the sweet spot of restriction. Any advice is most welcome. Had lapband surgery 10/12/16

Amylou, We're on the same schedule! I started my 10-day pre-op liquid diet yesterday, too! I had a hard day today . . . headache all day long, semi-nauseous, and HUNGRY. However, I am following the diet to the letter and know I will make it. The key for me was to find Protein shakes that I liked. I bought Optimum Nutrition 100% whey Gold Standard powder in Extreme Milk chocolate, and also in vanilla. I've mixed it into Cream of Rice, Soup, and have had some pretty tasty and filling smoothies (with Greek yogurt). Hang in there -- it's gotta get easier!

What a great question! Pre-op, I was probably a 3-5 most of the time, but I didn't realize how low my spirits were. Looking back at pictures of myself from then, I seldom smiled and I don't remember being really happy most of the time. Now, almost two years out, with a year of counseling under my belt, I'm normally between a 7-10. As others have said, I love the fact that I'm so much smaller, healthier and able to do whatever I want to do. If I never lose another pound or inch, my VSG was worth it! What makes me even happier is knowing that I WILL lose another pound and another inch (over and over) until I get to my goal. So, overall, an 8-9 most of the time. BTW, I'm smiling in almost every picture I take these days!

My happiness has grown with every pound lost. Before at 250+ lbs, I hid. I literally would try to compact myself on airplane seats, sit in chairs at an agle to try to appear smaller ,I avoided social outings with friends, I was tired all the time, embarrassed at my own size and had no energy. Now after shedding over 55 lbs, I feel like the possibilities are endless and only matched by my happiness. I didn't expect losing weight to solve all of my problems (need to hit the lotto for that). I expected losing weight to give me my life back and it has. I would say I am an 8.5/10.

I'm so excited and just have to share the news that insurance has approved surgery! I have been going through all of the motions since January and am so excited! A little about me: I'm 46, mother of two kids (10 & 7), and I teach 6th grade. I had medullary thryoid cancer and my thyroid was removed in 2008. Even though my thyroid hormone levels are within range, weight has been a problem ever since the removal of my thyroid. Have I mentioned that I am SO EXCITED?!?

I am on day 4 of liquid diet and it is tough cause of course all weekend I have been surrounded by food. I have managed to stay away but it has been so tough. I am having soup, protein shakes and jello. I am also allowed sf pudding and watery oatmeal. I have 10 more days to go.. I know I can, I know I can

Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie. I am 5 feet tall and was 223 lb when i started my journey last November. I have insulin-dependent diabetes, sleep apnea (using CPAP at night), high blood pressure and have had both knees operated on. Since November, i have been working toward my life changing surgery. I am 62 years old and have finally come to realize that if i do not do something now, especially when i have all the tools in my reach, i would be crazy. I jumped in with both feet. My first step was going to the seminar. My doctor was so confident and knowledgeable. I was given the pamphlets and appointments were made. Then the work began, losing the 10% required for the surgery. It was hard work and i worried that I was not going to be able to do it. I had failed on every other diet (i wish i had all the money i spent in my lifetime on diets of all sorts). It was taking too long for me to lose the 22.3 lbs i needed to lose. At my next weigh-in appointment, one of the nurses talked with me about my worry. She was so supportive and understanding that i pushed forward. I did not make the goal by the time my surgery was scheduled, but by the time the surgery was to be performed, but by the grace of God, i made it !!! ... i went through the dieting, appointments with the pulmonologist, cardiologist, psychologist, labs and GI testing. I was doing it. i really did get caught up in the optimism and support. Last Wednesday night, the night before the surgery, i was worried, really worried. Like most, i was worried about the unknown. I heard some horror stories about not being able to handle certain foods, the nausea and the vomiting. I was told and i believe that if you listen to the doctor and follow her instruction, you will not be sick. From the beginning, if you do not drink when you are supposed to drink or eat when you are supposed to eat, the possibility of these things happening is very real. No drinking when eating. Stop drinking 1/2 hour before eating and begin 2 hours after. Must follow progression of foods, clear liquids (see through liquids) for 5 days, full liquids for 2 days, then pureed foods. I struggled and did this for a week AND i lost 8 lbs. I feel great (don't get me wrong, it was still surgery on your abdomen with the incisions and piercing pain when you cough) BUT it goes away. I keep thinking over and over, i will not have to ask for a seatbelt extender this year on the airplane for vacation and i will not have to take pain meds for my legs. My journey is moving forward ...I hope everyone who is contemplating this surgery goes forward and succeeds. Don't wait until you are 62. I feel wonderful right now, even with the fear of sneezing, about the 30-some lbs i have lost so far. Good Luck to everyone. Thank you for listening.

It never really clicked that without food in the pre op phase I wouldn't have energy, I've been on the shakes for 6 days now and it's only yesterday that I felt exhausted, I don't know how anyone that has a job can deal with this, I don't have a job which usually I'm bummed about but at this point I'm glad I don't because I never would be able to work and be on the shakes, I feel exhausted even after 10 hours sleep which is ridiculous. Anyone else encounter this?

My surgeon told me if I was having problems passing gas, I could use 1 oz of Milk of Mag. or 10 oz of Citrate Mag. or Ducolax Tab. I also know others who have used Benefiber. I didn't have a problem passing gas but wanted to let you know some of your options. Have a great day!

Tonight I had what my husband called "My Last Supper". Tomorrow it will be 10 days before my surgery. At this point, I am not sure what my emotions are! I don't feel excited, nervous, or scared about the sleeve, but I do feel worried about this 10 day liquid pre op diet. Since I made the decision to have surgery, I seem to have lost some interest in eating. Today I have eaten very little, until dinner. My husband, however, has been mourning the loss of food. It seems he is eating everything in sight!!! I have decided on some projects (making my son a halloween costume) to keep me occupied and keep my mind off food. Any one have any other suggestions for passing this time??? Also, need suggestions for convincing my husband that he is not going to starve!!!!

So I was at a 1year old's birthday party at a cousins house and I was sitting on the couch (I was sleeved 8/10/15) and all of a sudden another cousin came running in the house screaming my name, I jumped up without thinking because my 9 yr old was outside with her & I thought something happened.... Well she forgot I had surgery and was only kidding, problem is I hurt myself.. I was feeling really good but now after that I am back to feeling like I was week 2 post op. My one incision inside just burns and stings so bad when I bend slightly & turn, Im so upset! I called dr office on Tuesday but never got a call back yet, Guess Im just wondering if anyone ever hurt themselves like me

I'm not sure I completely understand your question..... but, I don't believe it's healthy to feel "full" after only 4-5 bites. You need a good balance of the proper amt of calories/protein. You were only banded 11 weeks ago, that's an average of almost 2 lbs a week. You don't want to lose too fast, take my word.. loose, flabby skin will result. I have a 10 cm band (max fill capacity 4cc) and am currently filled to 3.5cc = if I eat the WRONG things I usually can't get more than 4 bites down. It takes TIME to learn to eat properly and get to a good/comfortable fill level. Try NOT to concentrate on the numbers, don't put so much pressure on yourself. All the best, Karla

@blashlee I so agree with this "My frustration with seeing "plus size" models was that they were still a seemingly unattainable standard of beauty and size." It has always been puzzling to me to look through a plus size catalog and see the clothes modeled by someone 5'10" and size 10. I have noticed though that more catalogs and online store-sites are using models that truly look like they wear a plus size.

I would love a buddy and/or advice. I was banded in August of 2011, and lost 80 pounds in about a year. In October of 2012 I became pregnant with my second child. I gained 40 pounds during my pregnancy, and have been gaining and losing the same 10 pounds for over a year. I am very discouraged, but also determined to get back on track. Starting a two week liquid diet tomorrow to try to shrink my pouch and get back to losing.

I am also a social worker, took about 10 days off. I work at two different inpatient hospitals one is behavioral health and the other setting is medical. So I was able to kind of manage my eating and drinking in between patients. I will say that when I work at the big medical center there's a lot more walking so I have asked to be assigned to smaller units. It's kind of nice I've been watching over the babies and working OB. Even though I don't have a lot of lifting, I am finding that I'm coming home and crashing to go to sleep at about 730 at night and I wake up at 5 AM to go walk. I live in Arizona so you have to beat the heat.. Sleeved 6/16/15

I was off two days for one of my jobs (I'm a therapist, lots of sitting.) My other job I took off ten days because that's a very fast paced, 14 hour day. The eating part is easy - clear liquids the first 10 days. Now I'm in the protein shakes phase. I just pack the powder in little baggies and add them to water at work. I plan to buy ready made shakes for emergencies.

I was off 2.5 weeks. I was totally pain free and by then I was just still struggling to figure out the eating and drinking. I was glad to get back to work so I could think about anything other than food and water! If your job requires heavy lifting, you would need to consider more time. My doctor told me I wasn't allowed to list more then 10 lbs for 4 weeks.

It's not always how much you are doing in terms of time...I think in order to keep the motivation going, you have to have an idea as to why you are doing it. The reality is with rapid weight loss you are going to have saggy skin. It may or may not shrink eventually, but firming the muscles will help give contour and tone. Cardio will improve skin health giving you your best chance to avoid plastic surgery. So you are doing the right thing balancing weights and cardio. I just walked first two weeks, put in elliptical on week three and light weights by week four. Increased intensity by no more than 10% a week until 2 months post surgery and then started doing heavier weights and month 3 began the Couch to 5K program so I could put running in the mix. Now I'm going to a very heavy HITT weight program, but taking more days off to recover and will mix walk and run days with that. Keep challenging yourself, and have some fun. Did you know if you climb a 11,000 foot mountain with a 20 pound pack for 8 hours you will burn 6,000 calories? Lost three pounds doing that.

Banded yesterday...no pain at all. I had a bad reaction to the anesthesia and had a hard time waking up, but other than that...feeling fine! Bring on the liquids!

Sounds like typical week for me, band is quite finicky isn't it? I have been really focused lately on making sure the bites are small and chewing really really good. It seems that the issue for me is letting myself get too hungry. Empty tummy seems to let the band tighten up then even one bite too big or not chewed enough leads to stuck. So now I am getting stuck less. Also I wait about an hour or so before eating breakfast since the bands seems tight in the early am. I have chosen to keep my current fluid (6.5 cc in 10 cc band). Good luck!

This past week has been filled with so many NSV's that I have to share... 1) my 16 year old outgrew a pair of his 30X34 jeans- they fit me!!!!! 2) I recently started a new job & still haven't got acquainted with everyone- I overheard someone describe me as "the tall SKINNY girl with blondish hair"!!!! 3) I went to North Face & bought size 8 khakis!! (I thought size 8 jeans I have were a fluke!!) 4) I ran into someone who hasn't seen me in a few months & she didn't recognize me!!!! 5) I never ever saw a resemblence between my children & me until reently- I found that we have the same facial features/bone structure, mine was just hiding!!! 6) Oh yeah- I've caught men lookin'!!!! 7) My shoes are too big!! 8) I made an appointment with plastics, for a few minor enhancements!!! 9) I walked by a mirror the other day & thought "she's got on the same shirt as me", only to realize "IT IS ME"!!!! 10) I posted all of my old clothes for sale on a classified site, I'll NEVER need them again!!!!!! Hope all of my fellow-sleevers enjoy the little NSVs as much as I do!!!!!