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I had surgery on 10/12 please make sure you walk after surgery. Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

I am a post op sleever. I had a lap band and it ulcerated requiring removal. Since getting the sleeve (5 mths ago) I have lost 95 lbs and about 10% of that was my hair (insert sarcasm here.) I was struggling to get in all my protein and fluids, ended up hospitalized for dehydration which also lead to a UTI and kidney stones. I recently found out about Zija which is a product of Moringa Oleifera. If you don't know what this is, research it please! I believe every WLS patient should be on it. It's 100% organic and unlike our typical vitamins that all of us are required to take post surgery, that have a 10 % absorption rate, Zija has a 100% absorption rate. In addition, it has every vitamin from a-z. Within a week I stopped losing my hair and within 2 weeks I stopped taking all of my meds. I only take Zija and I'm not struggling to get my protein or fluids in anymore because of all the meds I took. I was spending roughly $165 a month in just vitamins, supplements, etc and now I spend less than $100 plus I'm saving over $300 by not having to take any of my meds. I feel great and am truly living a healthy lifestyle. facebook.com/ninetynutrients or ninetynutrients.myzija.com Email before ordering as you can get it for wholesale.

I had my sleeve on July 16th. They found a hernia that needed repair also, so I figured my recovery would take a bit longer. I went home 1 day after the procedure on liquid pain meds. I had to take them every 4 hours the first and second day home. The taste from the pain meds made me sick so I switched to children's Tylenol. Today, I woke up pain free. Feeling good! Gas pains have lessened. Just trying to get in all my fluids. I found Hood Skim Milk for 10 grams of Protein and it is a treat! Today, I am mixing in Isopure with Crystal Light to get in more protein. HW:228 SW: 214 Current: 210 Goal: 125

Hi Bunny, I'm booked for July 7th. I too have sleep apnea, diabetes and bad ankles & knees. I started at 276 and am down 10. Just losing 10 lbs. has helped me get control of my blood sugars. I can't wait to see what is ahead!! I'm very optomistic and excited to regain a healthier life:smile2:!!! Carol D'

So i have posted here 2 times with a surgery date in the past six months. The 1st fell through because my mom went into icu 2 days before my surgery(she came out ok). The seconf time i tried my work required me to go out of town 18 hrs away for 10 weeks for training. Now this is all out of the way and im getting the sleeve on march 21st. Im exited and nervous but this time nothing short of armagedon is going to stop me. i am having my surgery at university hospitals in cleveland ohio by dr alan saber. have been on preop for 1 week and have lost 10 pounds and am dyiong for taco bell. have followed the diet 80-90% but have had an extra shake or piece of skim milk mozerella here and there. little nervous about the first couple weeks after surgery wondering if i will be hungary and wanting to freek out lol. I have a great support system and everyone i know knows what surgery i am getting so im sure they will all be understanding. just gonna take it one step at a time. I have had no probs with insurance bcbs federal has been great. well wish me luck and ill keep posting. oh i plan on taking pics once every week or 2 in my boxers to get the full effect so if you read more of my post be prepared lol. mike w

Congratulations!!! I was sleeved 6/2/10 and have lost 52 lbs as of today! It's truly amazing to me! I did not have to do any pre-op diet so weight loss has been since surgery. I did experience a lot of weakness and "blackout" feelings early on but feel stronger now and I finally think I am getting to the point of eating a variety of things. Still can't eat much dense protein such as chicken breast, beef (made that mistake last week on vacation!) but other things seem to be coming along. I am not doing the best job of getting enough protein in every day and HAVE to improve on it. After reading of different ones complications, I feel blessed to not have had any surgical complications. I would do it again in a heartbeat! I want to make sure that I have better health as I get older. I lost my Mom on Christmas Day who was overweight most of her life and had multiple health issues including type 2 Diabetes, heart and a stroke took her life. For those of you considering surgery, think hard and examine all your options but again, I am MUCH pleased at this point.

So you slipped once. Get on with the rest of your life. There are going to be slips in life. Don't beat yourself up. Pick yourself up and dust off your britches. You can do this girl! I was told they expect 90% compliance and 10% "oops". It happens to most everyone.

I'm 38, married for 19 years in Sept. I have a wonderful husband. I have 2 children, 12 and 14 years old. They are my world. I'd love to be able to do more with them. I have Multiple Sclerosis so the decision is possibly harder for me to make. I am only considering Lap Band. Because of the MS I don't think RNY would be a good choice. I can't afford Malnutrition or the effects major surgery from RNY would put me through. I think it would be too taxing. Fatigue with MS and pain are my biggest problems. I'm afraid major surgery would be too hard to recover from. I feel rotten most of the time and I'm hoping the weight loss will help me feel more human. I've also been dx'd with Degenerative Disc Disease c5 c6 c7, bulging discs at L1-2, I have horrible hip pain worse on right side but both sides hurt everyday. My elbows hurt, my feet hurt. I have GERD. And I suspect sleep apnea. I've never been tested but am planning on asking when I see Dr. Geller. I will feel better about getting a sleep test before surgery. I get breathless going up one flight of stairs... my bedroom is on the 2nd floor and every day I think that eventually I will not be able to climb the stairs because of my knees.... and when I get to the top I'm breathless and wonder if I'm going to wake my husband with my heavy breathing. It's embarrassing. The least I've weighed in 6 years was back in 2000 after 6 months on FASTIN. I got down to 224 from 254. Since then I've gotten up to 274. Would love to be in the 100's again. 8-20-2006 I rescheduled to go to Dr. Geller's seminar on Lap band surgery for the 22nd of Aug. I was scheduled to go last Monday, but I for whatever reason wrote down it was for Tuesday. So I missed it. I was very upset. When I emailed Dr. Geller he told me to call in and get signed up for the seminar on the 22nd. I was lucky. I got the last two seats. My husband is going to be able to go with me. I'm excited and nervous. Well so far I have told my husband of course, my daughter who is 12, my very very good friend Betty who had RNY a few years back. I got brave and told my mom. I had been worried about telling her but she wasn't negative. She just wants me to be sure to get a doctor that has done this many times. I told my brother today. I had no idea what he would say. But he surprised me and started talking about a guy he works with that is interested in it and wishes he knew how to ask he's wife about considering it. My brother also told me about friends of his that have had the RNY. So he was, and will be supportive. I haven't told anyone else. I don't know right now if I will or not. The majority of my friends would be great about it I think. I have some family that I'm not sure about. I feel like some of them would try to just rain on my parade. Anyone else... just passing people I have no interest in telling. Maybe after I lose weight if they ask.... There are so many negative people out there and I'm just not really in the mood for them. 8-22-06 Today is the day I go to the seminar. It's not until this evening. I have tons of questions to ask the doctor. I'm happy but nervous. I will write about how it goes later.

My surgery coordinator called me a few minutes ago and the had a cancellation so they moved me to NEXT MONDAY!!! 01/08/18!!!! I don’t have my vitamins and today I was supposed to start my low carbs today and liquid was next Thursday...now what????? Instagram: itsgretchen

I have religiously used a food scale since the beginning of my six month pre-op diet back in March. I actually have 4 of them now because I have forgotten one on a couple of trips and had to pick a new one up. It is my most relied-upon tool after the sleeve itself. I know that I eat too fast, but it hasn't caused any problems. One of my meat meals (e.g., 2 oz of salmon and 1 oz of green beans) takes about 10 minutes to eat. As far as this grazing thing -- I have always taken grazing to mean you are constantly eating throughout the day and many of these foods are things you shouldn't be eating, not that you are working toward your appropriate daily Protein goals. I eat 8 times a day, about 90 minutes apart. I'm not grazing; I'm eating comfortable size meals that add up to about 950-1000 calories, less than 20 carbs, and 90-100 grams of protein per day -- exactly where I should be.

I am in the process of making my final plans to have my gastric sleeve done in Mexico on 01/10/11, by Dr. Kelly or Almanza depending on the final cost. If I develop a leak while I am in Mexico after the initial sleeve surgery will I be out additional expenses or is that covered because it happended immediately after surgery. After I get home if I were to develop a leak in the first few weeks and/or months after surgery what would the cost of the leak repair be if I return to the doctor in Mexico.

HI EmmyEm... There is a group on this forum called SoCal VSG Support Group and one of the members came and spoke at my options class with Kaiser...she was a real motivatation! Her name on her is Sleeve 4 Me...contact her and I am sure she can give you all the details. I do know they meet this Sat at 10:00am in the food court at Victoria Gardens

I'm 9 months out and have lost a total of 114 lbs (30 or so before surgery). It's very slow now... 2-3 lbs per month. The doctor said that's normal, but it's still hard to take after losing so much so fast! I need to step up my exercise a bit and see if that helps get me going. I'd like to lose at least 10 lbs more.

Hi Maddy and ParrotheadCathy Thank you both for your advice and congratulations on your weightloss! I checked out the TLC website and it is still 9990, so it is great to know that may be an option. It is also great to know that 15,000 and 10 fills is accross the board from True Results. I have heard really fabulous things about Dr. Benavides and I really liked their staff so it may be worth the extra 5,000.00 (yikes!) for peace of mind. Thank you both for the advice!

My names jamie. I'm 25 and Live in myrtle beach, SC. I was banded on 4/10 and already lost 35 pounds. I'm looking for a buddy who has also just been banded or someone around the same age.

I'm very jealous of that, I have yet to have my first fill. My port flipped, so I had it removed and replaced. I go for my first fill, I hope, in 10 days. I'm so happy that everyone else seems to be doing well.

It is killing me. If I were a betting person. I bet 8 out of 10 commercials on tv is about food. I didn't think about this much before my sleeve but now I want to to turn the tv off. No wonder just about everybody is overweight according to medical standards. I'm really not hungry until I see a commercial & then it's on.

Hi- almost 2 weeks post op- down 19 pounds- but getting real sick of protein shakes. Can't move to stage 4 until Tuesday. I think then I can have puréed chicken, fat free refried beans, and other stuff.. Any good mushy foods you can recommend??? Thanks all!!!

i am 6 months post op and since the surgery i have lost 35 lbs. I just went to both my dr and my nutrition yesterday and they both said that that much weight lose post op at this stage is very GOOD, so your doing great.i also got my third fill yeterday so i now have 7cc's in a 10 cc band. and let me tell you i am def eating less then i was .

I had my Sleeve surgery on 9/10/15. So far I am so uncomfortable. The 1st week, I was so bloated. My intake on Water and Protein shakes weren't good at all. I always felt full. I had to make myself sip, sip, sip so I wouldn't dehydrate. Did anyone feel the spasms sensation in stomach? Its not as bad now ( in 4th week)...I just feel sore and uncomfortable. Ready to feel better...

i called the insurance co to see if they pay for the sleeve, and they do . Lets just hope they pay for me : ) did you take lots of test ?, i think i had 4 , with one left to do For work reasons i want to see if they can do it before june, spring break would be perfect. did my support group , nutrtionist, !st meeting with Dr sat weigh ins , ive lost 4 of my 10 pounds, shrink eval I feel like im just sitting here waiting : (

First of all - Congratulations on the weight loss - to all of you. I know how hard you've been working and what determination you have. I also know really really well the fear you are facing. I was in the same place 12 years ago. My surgery was 13 years ago this month. I lost 170 lbs and have managed to keep it off - Yeah! I was really afraid of re-gain those first couple of years - especially as my appetite came back. I've roller coastered a bit at times but have managed to stay within about a 15 lb range. Don't let the fear stress you out because that can act as a push into old eating habits. Here's a few things I did to help me stay stable. I changed my eating habits drastically in that first year while I could. I cut out all sugar, went low on the grains, stopped all fast food with the rare exception, and went organic. It was easy to do that in the beginning when I was v. motivated because I kept thinking long term. I set up good solid exercise routines - doing things I liked like biking, dancing, swimming and walking. I continued to do those things because I liked them. I didn't get on the treadmill or exercise bike because I didn't like them and knew I wouldn't keep it up. I also set up and have continued to do a simple weight training routine. I got help when I needed it - used the professionals in my program but also went outside for psychotherapy and life coaching. Lastly I worked hard at not freaking out when I did gain a pound or 2 or even 10! I'd just do an inventory of where I was getting slack - esp. with the rules of the pouch - and trusted myself to get back on track, even if it took me a few days or even a week. I didn't freak out, go into despair and start that downward spiral of beat myself up, eat more, beat myself up more, eat more, etc. This is all simply put here but I put in a lot of work and time and continued vigilance yet learning to let go and enjoy life up to this day. I know I'll never gain back that weight. Good luck to all of you. The fact that you are concerned and looking long term is a great sign that you'll make it!

Hey there Manz, I'm sorry I took so long to get back to u, I had a pretty scary time post op. I started bleeding internally and had to go back to the hospital. Passed out and bp dropped to 40/10! Went to ICU for a night and finally got every thing settled. I got to come home Tuesday and everything has been getting better each day. I'm sorry you were so sick after surgery. I hope all is better now. We r gonna rock this sleeve from now on! I was 239 when I went into icu and this morning I weighted 223!!! I know alot was fluids but I'll still take that.

I can't offer much, I'm only 10 days post op but originally that is what I wanted. After research I decided against the band due to complications, always getting fills, and having a foreign object. The first doctor I went to was opposite as yours. I wanted sleeve by that point he suggested band but was willing, I found a new surgeon as the only reason was band was that surgeon's specialty. I researched alot on here and after my initial thoughts band was never an option. Keep reading and be sure to ask the people who had band to sleeve revision Also to had there are success stories with the band for me though sleeve was the better option.