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I have not been around as much lately and several LBT friends have asked why…… I was banded in February of 2012, lost 80 pounds in 10 months and have maintained that weight until I had a tummy tuck on Halloween… After the surgery I had 2 drains, they were removed after 2 weeks. Within 5 days, my tummy filled up with fluid and my doctor drained it (this is like drilling for oil with a really BIG needle….. not fun!). Within about 5 days my tummy was full again so my doctor put a drain back in. The next week the area above my belly button filled up with fluid and I had another drain put in just below my bra line. About a week later I had the upper drain removed & that issue was resolved, BUT…. I was still accumulating over 50cc of fluid a day from my lower drain. Doc said the magic number was less than 20cc a day for 2 days in a row, well that wasn’t happening. So on Monday doc flushed Ethanol thru the tubing of my drain into the pocket in my tummy (100cc total). This is supposed to irritate the area between my skin & abdomen wall and cause it to stick together. Today (Thursday) I am still getting 30cc of fluid a day from my drain…… I go back to the doctor Monday. My options are, do the flush again and if that doesn’t work…..another surgery. Ugh Complications happen, I know that. But, how has this affected me mentally? Well, I can’t exercise (every time I do the amount of fluid goes up), I can’t go in my hot tub with my husband (open incision), Have this glamorous drain to carry around in my pocket….. IT SUCKS! And I have gotten very depressed over it. I have disconnected from my life lines (Local support group, LBT wait I mean Bariatric Pal, and my family) Yes I looked to food for comfort. (We won’t even add the holidays on top of all this….) So you wonder….how is my weight? I am about 10 pound over my original goal weight (I weigh between 177-180, depends on the day). But even more important is how I am mentally? I will be honest, I am struggling. I am pissed, why is this happening to me? What did I do to deserve this? WHY? Oh WHY? OH WHY????? Full on pitty me party here!!!! This is my confession, I am not the perfect role model. I struggle, I have pitty me parties, I ask why me…… and so I stayed away from my support. Too many people saw me as inspiration. How can I be inspiration when I am like this???? I am taking my complications day by day. I am not giving up (& yes the tummy tuck was worth it). I just don’t think I can motivate anyone right now.

Wow! I am so sorry to hear that. It has to be very awful for you and your gf. This is not the way it goes for the majority of people though. The complication rate for this surgery is only 1%. I will be very interested to read what your surgeon tells you about your leak that the anesthesiologist told you maybe permanent. Your surgeon will know the next course of action.

For me, it was the severity of the procedures. I was hesitant enough about WLS, but removing part of my organs was just too much for me. Also, since I'm self-pay, I was FREAKED out complications because my insurance would not cover any complications. Lapband was far less risky, IMHO, and therefore, less of a risk financially. I've been infertile for four years and would like to get pregnant one day, and the fact that you can remove all the liquid from the band and have a normal size stomach again appealed to me in terms of nutritionally providing for a child if I was pregnant. It's different strokes for different folks. I think Gastric Bypass is a fine procedure and is a better fit for some people. I think Lapband was the right fit for me. The best advice I can give is research, research, research! Good luck!

To try and ensure I hit on everything, my answers are below in blue. After reading the posts about band slippage, erections, the many doctor visits years out and so on and so forth. I am rethinking this thing. I was thinking that I would get banded, go to the Md for a couple of post op visits then once every year. You have to keep in mind that this is a support board, and by and large the people have sought this site out for some purpose. Often that purpose is complications. We likely have a higher concentration of people represeting complication statistics here than the general banded population. Complication rates are still very low. BTW, erection -- really?? As a female, I hope not! I think you meant erosion. Not to mention the hair loss!! The hairloss can come with any surgery or major body trauma, anesthesia, etc. It is not a"band" thing. I was under the impression that I would have 3 small incisions on my tummy. I've seen up to 5 and 6 VERY LARGE unsightly incisions. I have 5. I think most people have 5. My largest is just over an inch, and my smallest is probably 1/4". All but my post incision have faded to barely visible white lines. But let's get real for a moment. Incisions are unsightly, but being obese, stretchmarks, health issues, etc. aren't?? If someone needs the band, they're fat and probably have stretchmarks. Stretchmarks are likely to be in places others can see. The only way someone's going to see "unsightly" band incisions is if you pull your shirt up and show them your stomach. I don't know about you, but that's not something I do. Does the vanity of ~5 small incisions that no one will see unless you intentionally show them outweigh the "unsightly" fat/stretchmarks/health issues/etc.?? I've never understood this logic. I've read about not being able to eat, being uncomfortable and in pain. It seems as if the theme is : Yes I am in pain but at least I am not fat. If that's the theme, it's news to me. It takes a while to get the band adjusted. Part of that adjustment period is the potential that it is too tight, which can result in temporary pain. The biggest factor is our own behavior - chewing well, controlling bite size, listening to our body's built-in portion control, etc. Personally, if there's a theme then I think it's Yes I sometimes have pain, but it's my fault for doing stupid things. When I pay attention and follow the rules, I don't have pain. Perhaps you've been spending too much time in the complications area? I am NOT by any means trying to offend anyone. I appreciate all of your posts and it will help me to make a more informed decision. I appreciate everyone being transparent to help one another. Am I just delusional? This is not a 100% complicated free procedure is it? Again please forgive me if I offended anyone, I am just disappointed. You won't offend anyone. I don't think you're delusional, but I do get the impression you're focusing too much on the overall, very small rates of complication and letting that "block out the light" of all the success stories. Yes, you're going to have pain at some point. You're going to have to bring up food at some point. You're going to have some struggle in changing your behaviors. Those are things that just about all of us, especially anyone with any time out, goes through. The pain is not constant, and something that you can almost always control. The struggle is not constant... behaviors change, eb and flow.

If any doctor (or anyone else for that matter) tells you of a surgical procedure that is 100% complication free - run away from them very fast!! Honestly, we are talking about the human body here. All manner of things can happen. No surgeon in their right mind is going to say a procedure will be complication free - not at least until after its happened. As for a few check ups then once a year, I don't know where you got your information from. It is an individual process of fill and un-fill until the right amount is found for you. Then you have to go back every 6 months as the biggest gap FOR THE LIFE OF THE BAND INSIDE YOU. That is, as long as the band is inside you, you have to go back every 6 months. The reason for this is that a teensy, tiny amount of the Fluid can leak out of the band and you will lose a tiny amount of restriction. We are talking something like 0.3 ml here! But it needs to be topped up to ensure you stay at your happy spot. I think far too many people are seeing this as a quick fix, easy option. Its not. It involves a life time commitment to healthy eating and healthy living. The band does nothing at all on its own. It simply enables you to be able to keep to a diet, but you have to do the work. As I like to say, the band won't take your body out for a walk each night while you sleep. Before you decide ya or nay for you, speak to your doctor, go an info session and get some factual information. Once informed, then decide if this is something you want to do.

Complicated free? No, but neither is diabetes or a heart attack which anyone of us could be headed for. Lots of Dr. appts.? Yes, initially but again imagine how many appts. you'd have if you get diagnosed with a medical condition that takes a few visits to first diagnose properly and then more to get the condition under control. For me, I have had many office routine visits related to the band. Pysch exam, nutritional exam ( same day) consult with surgeon, pre-op testing, actual surgery and several band fill appts. The fills appts are quick, I am rarely there more than 20 mins. Depends on your Dr. and your body's reaction to the band. You might need fewer visits for fills than someone else.

The band is, to a large degree, negative conditioning. We want to do something bad for us, but the band gives us pain rather than reward. If we get slapped upside the head enough by our bands, it eventually gets through that the bad behavior causes pain rather than pleasure. For the lucky ones, the mere threat of pain is enough to steer them away from the bad behavior. For those of us not so bright, we need another occasional slap to keep us on track. The band stops us from overeating. How does it do that? With a gentle "no, no, dear?" Well, actually it does that, but I often don't listen. The pain from eating too much, too fast isn't a complication to me; it's a sign that my band is working. If it didn't hurt, I would still be stuffing myself with donuts. And I am not in pain unless I do what I know I shouldn't do. The hair loss can come with any weight loss. I lost hair on earlier diets; I think it's your body reacting to less food than it needs to maintain itself, so it sacrifices your hair. It came back before, so I expect it will this time too. My incisions are four quarter inch marks that don't even look like surgical scars anymore, and one inch long line. I consider them fairly minor. Your questions are good ones, and ones we all think about preband. The pain right after surgery is minimal for most; I never even took the pain pills my doctor gave me, nor did my husband. The biggest adjustment I thought I would have was the loss of my best friend food; as I've said before, she's still around but I don't like her that much anymore.

I am assuming you are 237 not 137 :-) that sounds sad to say, but hey if you were 137 you would be wanting the band! I copied this out of the Policy for you - if I were you, I would go to Tricare online and research each associated medical condition to see what sets it as a "condition". I was lucky, I was fat enough not to have co-morbidities -wow is this a screwed up world we live in! TRICARE POLICY MANUAL II. DESCRIPTION Morbid obesity means the body weight is 100 pounds over ideal weight for height and bone structure, according to the most current Metropolitan Life Table, and such weight is in association with severe medical conditions known to have higher mortality rates in association with morbid obesity; or, the body weight is 200% or more of ideal weight for height and bone structure. . . . .covered when one of the following conditions is met: 1. The patient is 100 pounds over the ideal weight for height and bone structure and has one of these associated medical conditions: diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cholecystitis, narcolepsy, Pickwickian syndrome (and other severe respiratory diseases), hypothalamic disorders and severe arthritis of the weight-bearing joints. 2. The patient is 200% or more of the ideal weight for height and bone structure. An associated medical condition is not required for this category. 3. The patient has had an intestinal bypass or other surgery for obesity and, because of complications, requires a second surgery (a takedown).

Well I am new to this board and I just got approved by health insurance which is HAP. I live in Michigan and HAP is using Henry Ford Hositpal in Detroit. I went my group consultation and gotten all of my appointments. I believe my doctor is Jeffery Gawel from I been told he is good doctor and patients are his number proitiy in the OR. My mom is also having it as well and my sister already had it does not regret. She got two kids. I want to Sleeve instead of the bypass. The bypass scares a little because of the complications and the fact they have cut into the small intestine

I just saw your picture....you look AMAZING!!!! Congrats on the rides and the 2 piece....you are rockin' it. I have struggled with some complications in the beginning and also not seeing a difference in the mirror. I still see myself 100 lbs heavier, I couldn't argue with sitting in the ride! It is all worth it!!!! Congrats again and God bless yours and everyone's journey! I too still see myself heavy. I wear a size 2 and for some reason it just doesn't register. In fact, my husband jokingly said I've become conceded because I'm constantly in the mirror when the truth is, I keep looking in the mirror because I still don't recognize myself. Like you said, you can't argue with fitting in the rides and wearing a smaller size. Hopefully we'll both come into our own. God Bless YOU!!!

HOPE THIS INFO HELPS FOR TRICARE INS! Go to the TRICARE website at www.tricare.osd.mil/ standardprovider to locate a provider in your area (South Region) TRICARE covers most inpatient and outpatient care that is medically necessary and considered proven. However, there are special rules or limits on certain types of care, while other types of care are not covered at all. This section provides details about services that TRICARE covers, limits and excludes. This is a guide to your TRICARE coverage - it isn't all-inclusive. Some services or treatments require prior authorization. Your coverage and out-of-pocket costs are dependent on your eligibility as a TRICARE beneficiary and may vary according to the program option you're using. Contact your regional contractor or TRICARE Area Office for more information. Gastric Bypass TRICARE covers gastric bypass, gastric stapling and gastroplasty to include vertical banded gastroplasty and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (Lap-Band surgery) is covered only when the beneficiary meets one of the following conditions: Is 100 pounds over ideal weight for height and bone structure and has one of these associated conditions: diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cholecystitis, narcolepsy, Pickwickian syndrome, hypothalamic disorders or severe arthritis of the weight-bearing joints Is 200 percent or more over ideal weight for height and bone structure Has had intestinal bypass or other surgery for obesity and because of complications, requires another surgery (takedown) TRICARE does not cover: Nonsurgical treatment of obesity, morbid obesity, dietary control or weight reduction Biliopancreatic bypass, gastric bubble or balloon for the treatment of morbid obesity Last Modified: March 24, 2008

Mynmann- I went to my TriCare office and they said lapband is now covered. I was given a copy of the TriCare Policy Manual, which describes the patient as: 1. "The patient is 100 pounds over the ideal weight for height and bone structure and has one of these associated medical conditions: diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cholecystitis, narcolepsy, Pickwickian syndrome (and other severe respiratory diseases), hypothalamic disorders and severe arthritis of the weight-bearing joints." 2. "The patient is 200% or more of the ideal weight for height and bone structure. An associated medical condition is not required for this category." 3. "The patient has had an intestinal bypass or other surgery for obesity and, because of complications, requires a second surgery (a takedown). "In determining the ideal body weight for morbid obesity using the Metropolitan Life Table, contractors must apply 100 pounds (or 200%) to both the lower and higher end of the weight range. Payment will be allowed when beneficiaries meet all requirements for morbid obesity surgery, including the ideal weight within the newly determined range." I'm going to check the TriCare office once again to make sure that they understood that it was Lap-Band that I was referring to, but I clearly told her it was Lap-Band that I was interested in, and she told me that as of December, 2007, it was covered. If I find out differently, I'll try to get back on this via your e-mail address. One expense that you might not be aware of is that of a dietician/nutritionist. My doctor requires a patient to meet with one before even seeing him. Additionally, you will see one periodically during your weight loss period. Mine will see me on the same day that I see the doctor, who is located an hour away from me in Santa Barbara. My dietician charges $60 for the first visit (it was an hour) and $45 for subsequent visits. TriCare won't pay for those visits because we have a dietician at Vandenburg AFB (central coast Calif). She is willing to work with me, of course at no charge, but she has to get the protocol from the doctor in Santa Barbara because she hasn't handled the bariatric patients before. I'm hopeful that the Santa Barbara dietician and doctor will o.k. that, but if not, the number of visits won't be so many that I can't pay out of pocket.

Ask your surgeon for the CPT and ICD-9 codes for your procedure. Call Anthem and tell them you need the allowed amounts for those codes. They will be agle to give you the amounts. If there ise more than 1 CPT code, ask Anthem to explain how the multiple surgery rules will be applied. Usually it is 100% for highest fee, 50% of 2nd highest and 25$ of all others, but Anthem may have different rules. They can also give you the amount allowed for the hospital bill (if there are no complications) with the same codes, Anesthesia is more variable because the amount of time for your surgery may vary from others. Hope this helps and GOOD LUCK!!

My story so far spans 6 years and includes 4 surgeries and a lot of ups and downs. In 2008, weighing in at 288 pounds on a 5'3'' frame, detesting seeing myself in wedding photos, and now having a gorgeous stepson to live for, I sought out weight loss surgery. Not to mention, my endocrinologist diagnosed me with PCOS and told me my only hope for having a baby was to lose weight. My employer is known to have a "Cadillac" benefits plan, so I had a hunch approval wouldn't be too difficult. I was correct. Getting approval only took a few months, and a minor number of hoops jumped through. I decided on the Lap-Band and was pretty excited going in to surgery. I wasn't too nervous, believe it or not! And even though back in 2008, the pre-op diet that my surgeon required was MUCH worse than what they do now (14 days of CLEAR liquids), I got through it ok. Surgery went pretty smooth- I remember falling in love with the SF Banana popsicles they gave me to eat right out of surgery - delicious!! After 2 weeks of chilling at home and lounging in the sun, I was back at work. I started getting fills soon after and started feeling the restriction. My memories that stand out - first time I got stuck was on a piece of egg and my husband had to stop alongside the road for me to slime/gag/vomit whatever you call that, ugh. The band had its good and bad. I remember getting stuck often. I remember wanting so badly to sample all of the foods at Thanksgiving dinner that I snuck away to do some yoga poses to get the food to slide through the band so that I could eat more - and was caught by my SIL who thought it was hilarious, as she downed a pumpkin roll. But a lot of the time, I paid attention to the rules, and didn't get stuck, worked out 5 days per week, and I lost weight - a lot of weight! I was down to a size 14 when I started having gallbladder issues. Getting extreme upper right stomach pain and nausea for no apparent reason, vomiting my guts up when there wasn't even anything in my guts to vomit up. That is when the band slipped for the first time. I knew it had slipped because even though I had a slight unfill, I could not get anything through the band and I was sliming/salivating constantly. I carried a can around one weekend so that I could spit my extra saliva out. Gross. By the time the dr finally decided to remove my gallbladder, the slip was so bad that I wasn't eating anything and was very dehydrated. He removed the GB, repaired the slip, and sent me on my merry way. Since I wasn't filled directly after surgery, I immediately gained back about 25 lbs. But I felt so good compared to before the surgery that I didn't care! After a couple of months of not caring, I realized I was starting to gain a little much, so I started getting fills again, pumped back up my exercise plan, and did ok at not getting stuck, not vomiting, etc. But I did still have one problem that I had from the very start. When I had the band, I could not burp. No matter how hard my husband tried to coach me, it didn't work. The gas got stuck in my esophagus and just gurgled around in there, making me (and him) miserable. I learned that if I just *barely* gagged myself with my fingers, the gas would be able to come up, and *most* of the time, I could keep from emptying the contents of my pouch. It sounds, and felt like bad Band behavior, but I was miserable and had to do something. Anyway, I started to lose weight again slowly, and was really enjoying life again. That was a pretty good year for me. That Christmas season was filled with parties, and I was able to enjoy them without the band being an issue. And on December 22nd, we found out the greatest news - we were pregnant! We had been trying for nearly a year and given it up to just enjoy life, and surprise! It was wonderful news! So, I went to my surgeon and he did a complete unfill. I had a GREAT pregnancy. I felt better during pregnancy than I have EVER felt in my life. I felt so full of positive energy. I was literally that glowing pregnant woman walking around on cloud 9! I focused on eating a lot of healthy food, taking my vitamins, drinking tons of water, continued exercising. I was a great PG mommy! (I did crave spicy foods and the baby insisted on a bowl of Graeter's black raspberry chip ice cream every night I gained weight, quite a bit, but I was so happy, I was ok with it. I had a great big round baby belly and didn't care that my arm fat was back I got up to about 248 at the time of delivery. My delivery was great. Near perfect, in fact. I made it to 8 cm before I got an epidural and delivered within 12 hours. Post delivery, they moved me to the recovery room, and that is when the disaster started. I nodded off due to extreme tiredness, and woke up aspirating my spit. Every time I nodded off while I was in the hospital, I woke up aspirating saliva. I am convinced, CONVINCED, that my band slipped during delivery due to being completely unfilled and all of the pushing. The next year was a mix of joy and misery. I couldn't eat food most of the time - well I take that back. Some weeks I could eat soups, soft foods, other weeks, I had to stick to protein shakes and milk shakes. I nursed my baby that entire year on that diet. Every night when I lay down to sleep, if there was ANYTHING in my pouch, even a little water, it would immediately reflux the second I dropped off to sleep and I would aspirate it. I got a couple of respiratory infections due to aspirating, and had to use an inhaler sometimes. I found out that drinking a milkshake at the right time of evening would cause everything in my pouch to slide through and I wouldn't take even a sip after that before I went to bed. Still nursing the baby, I did take a 2 day break (pump and dump) to have an Upper endoscopy, where a GI doctor (not my surgeon) said the band looked fine, and used a balloon to stretch the esophagus a little. This didn't really help. Not wanting to affect my nursing relationship with my very beautiful and healthy son, I continued my suffering. I suffered like this through his 13th month, when he started to drink from a cup and lost interest in nursing. After we stopped nursing, it seemed like the band got even worse. I was down to about 170 lbs. now after a year of nursing and barely eating. And now even the tricks I used for that year weren't working anymore! So back to the surgeon I went and finally he decided to remove the band. It was removed on 11/30/2012 and I weighed in at nearly 160 lbs that morning at the hospital. My insurance would not approve me for an immediate conversion, and my surgeon didn't recommend it. He wanted me to give my body a few months to recover from the malnutrition, trauma, and to see if the reflux problem would resolve. It did, immediately. I did well the first 6 months. I became an exercise nut, doing the 30 day challenge, P90X, etc, and eating a whole foods diet. I spent all day Sunday in the kitchen preparing healthy and wholesome meals for me and my family. I only gained about 20 lbs those first 6 months. Then disaster struck. I went on vacation, forgot my thyroid meds for a few days, came home with the flu, and triggered a nasty depression. A few months later, I had totally given up and was gaining weight like crazy. Within the year, I've gained another 80 lbs. Backing up a little, I tried, just a few months after the band was removed, to get approved for the Gastric Sleeve. My insurance wouldn't approve me this time because my BMI wasn't high enough. Come back when you are on our BMI chart, they said. HAH! Please gain weight and become unhealthy again, then we will help you. SO, anyway, I gave up on that for a while, and started trying again this past January. They denied me a couple of time because they tried to say the Band didn't work, so they wouldn't approve a second surgery. Uh, YES it DID! My surgeon's PA was on the war path when she heard that! A 130 lb weight loss does not indicate failure, she said! So, needless to say, she got me approved. But I shelved the approval due to some personal issues with my mom's situation. And finally decided to go for it, was Sleeved on 5/30/2014, despite my husband's protests (worried about complications/permanence) and looking forward to adding more to my story! So far, the sleeve seems alright. I am definitely not hungry, but a little unsure as to how I'm going to get my protein in with this much restriction. Gonna time my time and follow doctor's orders!

This touches on one of my concerns. I'd stay locally for an extended period of time after the surgery and I'd have some nursing assistance, so I wouldn't be completely on my own. I think I can handle the extra misery, but I am concerned that I'm more likely to rip stitches or cause some other complication because of my inability to compensate with my legs or arms. I have thought about splitting the difference and having two surgeries. I've looked at this every which way and I think you're exactly right about compromises. Decisions, decisions... Thanks for your input!

I had surgery here in the states saw my surgeon the day of, the next and he personally discharged me. My stay was not overnight it was a standard two night stay. I have no complications and I am only five days post. I wouldn't have done this if they attempted to discharge me the next day! I had surgery Thursday at 8am and was discharged Saturday at 12 noon. I loved the attention and service of my nurses and doctors. Everyone is different. What's the follow up care like for your surgery of done in Mexico? I've seen people on here with wonderful experiences with their procedures done south of the border. Good luck to you! I'm sure you'll find wonderful info!

Dr. Coon is the best. Had my surgery April 24th. No complications at all.

Hey, Ladies...thanks for your responses! Dutchgrl, I became a Christian while I was in college....back in 1993....ish. I have a family history of overweight and all the associated health risks that go along with it. Even if I lost all the weight I wanted, I'd never be a small girl...and I'm actually fine with that. Call it a cultural thing (I'm African American), but my "ideal" standard of beauty has always been heavier than the euro-centric ideal of beauty. Honey...I'm pretty hot now...but I'd be FIERCE at a perfect size 16. :heh: I like having hips and a behind...serious ones...little miss J-Lo doesn't have much of a behind as far as I'm concerned. LOL But, seriously, if I were to be honest, I'm carrying around more weight than I'd like (and much more than is healthy) because I love food waaay too much and because I equate food with comfort....in short, I eat too much...and it is difficult for me to control...at times it seems nearly impossible. I can't really blame it all on genetics. I do believe, however, that at least some of this is a spiritual issue (using food to fill a spiritual void). But, if I can do all things through Christ....(you know the rest)....why, then, can I not control this? This is a very tenebrous issue, I think. My friend and I weren't judging ourselves (because there is no condemnation....how cool is that???)....we simply didn't have an answer It's true that I am afraid, not because of spiritual reasons, but due to my family history. I'm walking in a minefield. I'm not convinced it is so simple as labeling overweight as sin or plain gluttony. I'm pretty sure it's more complicated than that. But, I still wonder if it's at least in part a spiritual issue. And that leads me to wonder whether WLS is a tool or a cop out. Personally, I lean toward the former, but everyone might not feel that way. And I really meant it as a general question...I didn't want to point fingers...but I geuss it's hard to pose or answer such a question in general terms without at least some anectodal reference.

I just finished my pre-op meeting and I don't know if I am happy or scared about how non-strict my surgeon is. I read all of the posts on here and I hear about 2 week pre-op liquid diets and the post of diets progression from Clear liquids to full liquids to mushies then solids. I was prepared for that when I went in today. However - instead I will be on clear liquids for 3 days then full liquids until I get back in for my pre-op with is 9 days after surgery. At that time the nurse said if there are no complications that she will put us on solids. Our pre-op diet with this surgeon is: 2 Protein shakes, and then a healthy lunch dinner with a requirement of 60-80 grams of protein a day and no carbonated beverages. I should be elated...but instead I am worried. I am assuming everyone else's surgeons has them on liquids for a long time for their stomach to heal...but not mine? So strange. A small part of me is disappointed because in some ways I want to be told that I cannot do what I have always done....it just seem a little lax. I would love to hear success stories of those who have had a lax surgeon ilke mine...it would make me feel much better BTW - I should mention that 48 hours before surgery I am on full liquids.

Oh my! What a bunch of complications. I hope you continue healing!

So happy for you! Glad you are not having any complications. I will be in your shoes 6 days from now when it is my turn. Very anxious but excited too. I wish you much success and looking forward to seeing posts on your journey. All the best, Sue

That dessert probably helped you lose some weight. Look it is not the best choice, but you are going to stop losing if you don't up your calories. The body will protect itself and if you can... up those calories to 1000. Your body needs to eat and use calories to lose. I know it sounds strange but it is fact.... Don't be so hard on yourself. So you ate a little dessert. Don't do it a lot. Once in a while if you find you can handle it. If it becomes a problem and you crave it too much. Then you will have to find other complex carbohydrates to eat. I did not eat for almost 6 months. I had to be taught again to eat. It was not fun...I had complications and so was on a drip. Be happy that you are able to eat. But try to keep the choices as healthy as you can...okay

I know how you feel. I lay awake for hours just thinking of all the "what ifs". I've never had surgery so I have no idea what's coming. I'm self pay and going to Mexico. I'm worried about the surgery and worried about Mexico. I even keep debating back and forth as to whether or not to take out a life insurance policy. How's that for being a nut job? I thank God for a supportive family and husband. When I really start freaking out I talk to them or spend time reading through the posts here. The before and after pics really help, and believe it or not, the complications thread helps. Some of those threads start out so scary, but so many of the responses are very positive and filled with great advice. It seems like a lot of the time, what starts out as being bad, really is just a minor thing with an easy fix. I have to honestly say though, that for as scared as I am, I am more excited.

A big hello to all my special May 06'er friends! It has been a while since I have checked in and I do hope you are all doing well. I am in decent health....no major complications....and still a walking miracle! My wt loss .... well, that falls short of what I wanted and expected for this amount of time post surgery! As you may recall, my first fill was delayed until Jan 07.....then my secong fill a few months later, turned out to be too tight. It took me a couple of months to get the time to go and have the unfill and the doc did a floro to be sure everything was in place. It was and yet to my dismay he totally unfilled me for a few months just for observation. Fast forward to Jan 08 (a week ago) and I have just had my first fill since the unfill. He only gave me a whopping 0.50 to start with. I don't even feel any restriction, but he wants to go very slow with me as "I am special" Lol! In the meantime, I joined a motivational wt loss seminar given at a nearby hospital and it is getting me mentally back in the wt loss zone. We are targeting a 2lb loss per week and I have lost 4 lbs in 2 weeks....right on the mark. Small steps...but hopefully the start of my real long term success. I am so very ready...as I have waited way too long. I am sure you have all done super and lost tons of wt by now. I am so happy for all of you......it is certainly a long journey. I'd love to hear how near to your goals you have become.....and how absolutely stunning you are all now! My warmest wishes and Happy New Year.....smiles....Diane : )

Hi, @@mlecompte @shelbys mom and @isda418. I had my surgery on August 11, so exactly three weeks ago. I'm so happy I did it. I've lost just over 15 pounds, an average of 5 lbs a week for now. I expect this average to go down soon, but it's been an encouraging way to start. @@mlecompte, I think at your height/weight you may lose much faster in the beginning than I have. Everyone's body is different of course, and you'll see that all over the forums, but at my starting height and weight I'm THRILLED with this rate of loss in the early weeks, whereas in other parts of the forums you'll see much more dramatic numbers in the beginning. Wherever you start, and whatever rate you lose at first, WOW does it feel exciting and motivating to see a number that is definitively, clearly lower than last week's! And of course it's not even remotely all about the numbers. It's about the very beginnings of feeling like my body is mine again. One thing I didn't really understand or focus on before I had the surgery was how much the beginning of the post-op experience is really in (at least) two phases. I am not a doctor! This is just my experience, and opinion based on that experience. In the first month what you're really doing is allowing that new stomach to HEAL. Yes, you want to be healthy, and you want to walk daily if you possibly can. But to simplify all those post op instructions (I am not a doctor!!!), in the beginning you are: keeping yourself alive and your organs healthy by staying hydrated and getting your vitamins; increasing your chances of keeping muscle mass while losing fat mass by getting your Protein in; moving your body to keep circulation up and, yes, aid in losing fat, and basically letting your sleeve heal so that you won't have complications and so that it will be the tool you need it to be for your long term effective weight loss. The second phase is the one where you are really using the sleeve as a tool for long term nutrition and weight loss. It's not an overnight switch from one mode to the other of course. I just mean that generally, the focus initially is on healing, and if you get frustrated or confused about your surgeon's post op instructions, it might be because some of them have less to do with what you can handle than on what is likely to aid or impede healing. All a long way of saying that in some ways, the struggle changes many times, and for the first time --a different point for everyone, but I'm using one month as a placeholder -- around the time you are basically healed and the sleeve won't be compromised by trying regular, nonpureed foods. I'm not at that stage yet. I'm looking forward to it for social reasons. For example this week we were in a vacation house with friends, and it would have been nice to sit at dinner and have small portions of some of the regular foods cooked each night, or to taste some of the foods this area is known for. On the other hand, it is easy just to keep eating/drinking my fake foods and small portions of cottage cheese and the like. So when I say I feel like I haven't really started "full life" with the sleeve, that's what I'm talking about. I'm not having to make many choices or take many risks....but I'm also not getting to make many choices or take many risks either Anyway, a very long way of saying that even in these first weeks/months this journey changes! I'm so thrilled I took this step -- worth all the pre-op worry, all the (brief) post-op pain, and all the money. It's funny. I HATED seeing these numbers on the scale when I was gaining, just hated them and was so angry at and disappointed in myself. But I sure do love seeing them when I'm on the way down.