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1. Sometimes I can - sometimes not! Depends on how tight I am. 2. Mind didn't fade Everyone is different though! 3. I tell everyone that asks. I haven't had any negative feedback. (to my face anyway ) 4. YES! Follow what your doctor says and exercise! You will do great! 5. I've read there is a low profile port - don't know too much about it though 6. I'm sorry to say that I can't do chicken breast. Again, everyone is different though. I eat a lot of seafood now. 7. I think so...my band limits the amount of food I can eat so I think it won't let me overeat and put the weight back. But you have keep up with your after care (fills, diet, exercise) 8. The alcohol will slow your weight loss. I count calories, so you could save your calories for it. I say whatever works for you 9. I started with centrum chewables and now take a regular multi vitamin. I have no problem swallowing any pills now. 10. I started out a 46 DDD and now am a 42 D. Unfortunately they are kind of saggy! YUCK! Oh well, I'll eventually have to get a boob job! I have had a very positive experience. The exercise has helped me the most. Good for the mind, body and spirit! Good Luck to you!

I had my surgery on April 22, 2019

Hi everyone! I hope everyone is doing well on their journey. I was sleeved on 10/03/16 and was wondering what are some of the things you do to prevent constipation..? I had to pass a very hard stool (sorry tmi I know) and I would like to never, ever go through that again! Please, any advice you can share is helpful [emoji4]

I keep hearing this over and over...my sleeve date is 10/19. But, what if I'm happy with my life, just not my weight? I've got a great husband, 4 great kids, a job I love, a very cool church family.... So basically my life is good... Except for food. I have used it for every emotion possible. There are so many good things in my life that I'm nervous will change now. Can anyone relate?

I guess with my program I have care first blue shield and I've never had to pay more than 20 bucks to see a nutritionist like ever but I have diabetes so in Maryland I'm covered because they want you to get rid of the diabetes and now with my surgeons program I am only paying 10 to see the nut Sent from my SM-T380 using BariatricPal mobile app

Congrats and welcome to the band world. Step one complete. Remember you have to alter your old habits. TV is the pits. My suggestions here is to write out a list a little things you want to get done around the house or new things you wnat to do now that you are banded. Walk and think at the same time. Food commercials on TV will drive you mad at this stage. Start planning on what you want to do as your healing time progresses. Get losts of rest and then walk some more at tleast every hour. I apresume since you are at home you have not gone back to work if your were already working. It is a good time to work on new things. This is a new journey. Just remember as you progress your willpower will be tested and tested again. You are in this for the long haul, make sure they people that are supporting you know this and continue to support you as well. I am 9.5 months out, sized down from a 16/18 to a 6/8 62 lbs lost. only about 15-20 to goal. I have made some "poor" choices but I have recovered and you do better the next time. I have a total of 6.5cc in a 10 cc band, coming from6 fills. Follow the DR's rules. I see alot of important stuff on here that would have answered alot of my questions early on, if I had know the site was here. So read and look around if you have questions or concerns, you should not be afraid to contact your DR if needed. Good luck. keep up the good work..

Hello. I have posted several times and love this forum but I have never posted my stats until now. Sleeved 6/17 highest weight and preop diet weight 190 current weight 167 goal 140. My decision: I knew I was self pay because of my low bmi and lack of insurance covering this. I went in thinking lapband was my only option but changed to sleeve because of the anxiety I had over fills and slips etc with the band. I had horrible labs, ridiculous high numbers in so many areas, hiatal hernia and ulcers on my stomach. My family is super supportive and they are so excited to me to get healthy and active. I have not told many that I had WLS. Wokers know I had the hernia repair. I am kind of glad the weight has not been dramatic because it can easily say I'm living healthier and the weight is coming off. I've only lost 4 pounds since June 25th. So ... Does this anger others? Is there judgement that I did something radical because I had the money. I feel it in a way. Now I look at overweight people and think, oh my god this is so life changing ... Everyone should be getting this done. What do you honestly think? Backstory for me. But 99% of people do not know: I am 43 and my husband am I have 10 kids together. He had 3 I had 2 we had 1 and we have adopted 4. We have 4 at home, 1 grown, 15, 6, 6, 5. My biological son was murdered 5/22/2011. He was 18 and victim to a senseless robbery. I have been through 2 trials and under the care of a psychiatrist with 3 daily meds to keep my life stable. And yes with all of that going on I have these small adopted children in my home. Since his death I have gained and gained with failed diet after another. I know I have to raise these kids for the next 15 plus years as healthy mentally and physically as possible. That has been my motivation. But .... If you didn't know that, which most don't, is there judgement.

What is really bad is I perfer to watch that than work. I have been sitting here for 10 minutes laughing at my screen. Thanks Eileen

WOW it sounds like you are doing well thats for sure!!!! I have just had my first fill and food is getting stuck and I have this uncomfortable feeling in my chest. It maybe because I am eating to fast or not chewing well enough. I have a 10 cc band and 4 cc in the band. It seems a lot tighter today than it did a few days ago. We all have to work hard to work with this band and to keep us on track. Thanks for sharing. imaluckydog

I'm 10 days out and it was not that bad. The people in the hospital I went to were just great to me. From the people that signed me in to all the pple in the OR. There are a lot of pple in the OR so be prepared for that. A lot more than I would have thought. You will do just fine. I have already lost 25 lbs since pre-op. Keep your mind on that.

My Md had guidelines that I could only eat strained creamed soups and liquids the first 1-2 weeks. That included yogurt, protein shakes 2 days after surgery and then cottage cheese and refined beans began at week 2/3. However it is hard to drink or eat much initially. I used a shot glass to get 2 ounces at a time and a timer so every 15 minutes I would drink 2 ounces. Once I was on soft foods like 1 egg or tuna it initially took 45 minutes to eat that then a week or so later 30 minutes, then eventually 20 minutes etc. Food wasn't appealing and after a few bites I felt like I just ate a Thanksgiving dinner. It wasn't painful but just that blah I'm done feeling. I think around 3/4 months I could drink a 11 oz. protein shake in 30-45 minutes, eat a 5oz cup of yogurt or 1 egg in 20 minutes but not much more in one sitting. Suddenly at 6 months I could comfortably eat about a half cup of food total if some of it was soft. Not a half cup of chicken, but a 1/4 cup of protein and a 1/4 cup of soft veggies. Now at 9 months sometimes I can eat almost a cup in one sitting in a normal amount of time like 10-15 minutes but usually it's closer to 1/2 to 3/4. I don't feel deprived or over full.

I am down 2 more lbs this week. I weighed in at 195.4lbs this morning. Surger weight 224lbs. That's 28.6lbs since surgery and 66.6lbs from my start. I am still at 2cc's in my band, 2nd fill set for May 2nd. I had a weird dream the other night and ended up rubbing my port site in my sleep. I am so aware of it all the time. I hope it's a fleeting sense of awareness. The less fat I have around the site, the more I am aware. I hope I just get used to it. Anyone else out there experience this? I posted some pictures last week of progress. I was left seeing difference but somehow they didn't encompass what I thought that 65lbs lost SHOULD look like. Expectations Jenny! Sheesh! So I have gone back into the old photo library and put together a Start to Today photo comparison. I feel much better about these ones! [/url] TOP: 262lbs - January 2010 BOTTOM: 197.4lbs - April 2011 The short of it? I'm still losing... slowly. I'm just fine with it! Content as can be! Working hard at beating my head and old habits and enjoying spring and the dog parks! And now for the delicious SUPER EASY bbq pork tenderloin recipe that's not really a recipe: 1 pork tenderloin 2Tbsp evoo 1Tsbp Pepper 1Tbsp Salt 2Tbsp minced garlic 3 large pieces of tinfoil Trim excess fat off of loin. Message 1Tbsp of evoo and half the spices on to each side. Press in half of the garlic on each side. The most difficult part: wrap loin with one sheet of foil. Roll like a sushi roll and twist closed both ends. Put the seam side of wrapped loin down on the centre of the tin foil and repeat. 2 wraps could do the job but I like to play it safe and repeat 3 times. BBQ on low for 40 minutes, turning every 10 minutes. Remove from grill. Let rest for 10 minutes. Open, cut, serve. Easy!!! This meat was so juicy and tender! No mess, no fuss! I served with boiled cabbage. 1 small head of shredded cabbage. Boil for 5-7 minutes in veggie stock. Strain, save stock in freezer for soups, throw in to hot wok and saute with onions. I also served with green salad and chickpeas with an oil and vinegar dressing. Have I mentioned how much I love produce in the spring and summer! Also, the BBQing so takes care of too many dishes to wash up. I could live off of meat, fruit and veggies over the summer months! The strawberries and pineapple are even starting to be good! The sunshine makes me feel younger. It renews my sense of dedication to my new lifestyle too! Ahh spring fever! No matter how old I get, I will still get wrapped up and carried away in your glorious rays. I will roll down my window at +4 degrees, sunglasses on, busting out a good sing along to Beastie Boys, Kings of Leon or even Salt & Peppa! YEAH SUNSHINE! Happy Spring!

I am coming up on my year in 01-21-10 and I have lost 80lbs i want to be at 100lbs by my anniversary date...on the other hand i have benn eating like crazy and not working out like I should.. i am going to start back working out Wednesday of this week and really watch what i have been eating. I tried to get a fill in october but it did not work they had to take it out i could not swallow or eat anything the band was just to tight so i figure i will get another fill in january that should help my appettite....

well the 4 days off really got me...I gained 10 lbs. How could anyone gain 10 lbs in 4 days? I know I ate like a pig but was it my body taking in all the calories it could since it has been deprived of them for so long? What could it be? I waited yesterday and ate like I should and lost 5 lbs so I'm sure it was mostly water weight but I've never had that much water in me. I'm drinking like I should, ordered more protein powder from BE. They were out of my favorite chocolate so I'll try some new flavors. I just wanted to die when I saw the scale. That means I still have 6 lbs to lose by the 15th. How am I going to do this? I came in early to work, actually at 5:45 instead of 9:30 to catch up on paperwork. I'm trying to get all the OT I can before vacation in Aug. I still want to get to 200 lbs by Aug 29th. Now I have 5 more lbs on top of the 26 lbs I had to lose. I just have to get it together (that is the story of my life) Coming into work is not always a bad thing, I am here by myself and I can watch my favorite show-snapped-on tv and work at the same time. Life couldn't be any better...getting paid and not having to deal with customers what a relief that is. There were some off the wall people yesterday and that makes for a long day. They take their cable very seriously. I got my bangs trimmed, always go to Toni and Guy, and they didn't trim the sides like I am used to so I have to keep sweeping the hair out of my face. I bought 2 books on the lap band procedure and how to deal with it after surgery so I am starting to read those and I will keep you updated. So for now life is good just need to lose the 6 lbs by the 15th.

MistyDTX, Everyone is correct, its the nerve endings that were cut during the surgery, some times you never regain feeling, I has a c-section 8 years ago, below my scar is still numb. However I would love to have a numb scar from my port, i was banded on 10/8 and my port is still OPEN!!!, and draining all kinds of fun colors, why don't Doctors listen? I told Dr. Carter this would happen, every surgery I've ver had ended in open wounds.. I asked for early intervention, but do they listen to the patient who is also a nurse........NO!!!!!!!!

Every night when I get off work I call the husband to see what is for dinner. The night before he said let's figure out what we are eating tomorrow night so you don't have to ask. I didn't get the fact that it bothered him for me to ask...I ask every night after work, it's just a question. I've made decisions all day and don't want to have to make one when I get off. Well last night he went off when I asked about how he doesn't know what is for dinner and I always ask and that it makes him mad because he doesn't know what to say when I ask. That threw me into thinking...my life revolves around food. Food is my best friend...it is there when I am happy, sad, depressed, bored, celebrating. It is always there and I can't stop thinking about it. I think about food from the moment I wake up until I go to bed. I think about what's for breakfast, what's for lunch, and what's for dinner. I can only eat 3 times a day so food is very important to me. I even dream about it sometimes. So I've come to the conclusion that I need to focus more on what I am doing that day and take one meal at a time. You have to be prepared when you have had the surgery, you just can't pop into McDonalds for lunch and order a burger. There has to be some meal preparation and thought into what you eat. My life just revolves around food. I love to eat out even though I can't eat that much, I like the atmosphere and getting waited on, not having to cook or dirty up dishes. I love to eat out. At first I didn't because I couldn't stuff myself from the plate of goodness that sat before me but now I am getting re-adjusted and I love it. PF Chang's is my favorite because there are appetizers that I can make a meal out of and have enough to take home for another meal later on. But just having him make me think about how important food really is got to me. I hadn't realized just how important it is and how much I think about. So that is that story. I weighed this morning and finally hit 226 lbs so I feel better since this is what I weighed last month when I went in for my fill. So anything that I lose after this will be a plus. I'll tell the doctor about my 4 day binge eating feast that I had and how I gained 10 lbs in 4 days so he will know that I am human and lost alot more than what shows on the scale. I just can't believe baked beans and birthday cake were worth gaining the weight because it has taken me 1 1/2 weeks to get it off. I don't know why I chose them to be my friends for the 4 days off but I did. I think after my fill I will stick with my protein shake in the morning along with my coffee, cottage cheese or some type of meat for lunch, and a hot dog for dinner. The hot dog helps because I know I am getting more calories from it and that is what I seem to not be hitting. Maybe that is why I am not losing the weight like I think I should be. One of the series Robert and I like started on Showtime and we missed the last 4 episodes so tonight we are going to catch up with it again. I can't wait for True Blood to start but I hope it isn't as stupid as last year. The commercials look good. We also like Dexter, it is so good and coming from being a cop, I can relate to wanting to kill off the bad guys that get away with their crimes. Yes I was a cop, I made $9 an hour working as a Deputy Sheriff for the small town I lived in. Now I make more than twice that and don't have the life threatening decisions to make. All I can do these days is turn off your cable if you don't pay. It bothers me that people come in wanting extensions on their bill because they are unemployed and can't afford to pay that month of service and you look and they have the top teir of cable there is. How can you justify paying $149 for cable for one month when you don't have a job? I know cable is a big thing in people's lives and it is the only source of entertainment for some families and I'm ok with that but don't come in and give me a pity party because you are broke and have that kind of teir. Do you really need all the channels? The high definition box and the recording box? If it were me I would downsize to just basic which runs $20, keep my internet so I could look for a job. I'm more than happy to put you on a promotion for 6 months to help you get back on your feet but we look at payment history and how long you have been a customer to do that. I've been unemployed twice lost 2 jobs and didn't have another one to back it up so I understand being unemployed. In fact before I got this job at the cable company I was unemployed and this first thing I did was get rid of the cable, internet, and house phone. I had my cell phone in case I got a call about a job and would go to the library to look on the computer for a job so I understand being in a position where you don't know where the money is going to come from for the next month. I didn't get unemployment so I didn't have that to fall back on. I understand where people are coming from that are in this position. Ok enough about that. I have the day off with the husband and we are going to meet up with my mother and her boyfriend for lunch so it should be good, don't know where we are going but it should be good wherever we go. We have some shopping to do so I'll have something to eat this coming week but really I don't need much after Monday because Tuesday is my fill and I have to be on liquids for 2 days after and then mushy for 2 days after that so that takes me to Saturday before I can eat something good. I hate getting fills for this reason but like the restriction I get from them. I'm not at full restriction but I have some. I just hope this fill does the trick. Well everyone have a good day and please don't bash me on this entry.

My Journey 9/12/14 Next week it will have been a year – I was banded 9/19/13 but my journey didn’t start there… It was a long time coming that wake up moment when you realize nothing is going to change without some effort and commitment on your part to make it change. There wasn’t really any one ah ha moment but rather a number of smaller nudges that pushed me in the right direction... March of 2013 saw me at around 240 250lbs getting on a plane for work and later to see family… seat belt didn’t close very easily.. It shut but the flight was miserable. Then for the first time I was bigger in size then my brother we had always been similar in build – but he had managed to slim back down to the weight of his youth while I seemed set on tripling mine. Pictures that spring where posted on Facebook I couldn’t figure out who that woman was looking back. I wasn’t willing to acknowledge it was me. I was horrified, OMG, did I really look that bad. I normally shied away from the pictures oh there are one’s here and there over the years when I decided I had lost enough that I could be captured forever frozen the way I was… May brought my annual health check – not so good… another year of doing what I was doing and I’d be looking a medication for all sorts of things – blood pressure – cholesterol – diabetes things need to change… June rolled round and I got on the scale… 269.. It would get worse from there before it got better but seeing those numbers 269 literally took my breath away. I had been thinking on lap band for a while. I had listened to the commercials and gone on line to research but that day I made the call and scheduled my evaluation meeting knowing my insurance would cover the surgery if I decided to move forward. Right there during the meeting I went on and had my diagnostics done to see if I was healthy enough for surgery. On the day my primary care Dr signed a letter saying it was medically necessary for me to have this surgery my weight had bloomed to 282. It seemed that I had managed to rationalize that as I was going to have this surgery I could spend the last few weeks before indulging any way I wanted. My Dr. tried to talk me in to alternate surgery’s apparently not really a believer in the band. I told him it didn’t matter what he thought I was the one doing it. It took 3 wks to get approved during this time I decided that I needed to start living as if I was banded. I got the call on sep 3rd saying it was a yes and did I want to schedule the surgery for the following week. I panicked so it was pushed to the 19th to give my self-time to adjust it had all of a sudden become very real for me. The morning of the surgery I was a wreck imaging everything possible – said goodbye to my girls like I didn’t expect to see them again. I very nearly left the surgery office after getting there I was why do I need this surgery I can do it myself. But in reality I knew that I couldn’t although I had weighed myself that morning and it was 272 the first sizable drop in weight I had in years I wasn’t sure if I could keep it going by myself. Surgery went well recovery was – text book. All the right complaints thought I was dying from the gas but I survived and moved past it all. Every day since I have taken one day at a time, the fight has gone I no longer fight with the urge to eat enough for a family of 3. I still eat what I want but can now stop and actually put food down when I realize I don’t need it. I’m full I’m satisfied. Being satisfied is key – it isnt’ really healthy to eat until feeling full – to eat until satisfied is the point – it has taken me the best part of a year to truly understand. I’ve had many adjustments to my band even getting to the point it was too full. Spending my time in the bathroom because every meal was a fight just wasn’t the way I wanted to live not to mention the health risks. So I had it adjusted and removed some of the fluid. BEST decision ever.. After the first one off course of actually getting the band. Weight loss for the most part has been good. This morning I weigh 211.4 OMG… I don’t recall the last time I weighed this little. I still have a ways to go but i have a handle on it I know I will get there it will just take time. And now because I’m a much healthier time is something I have again. There have been many small victories this past year, wearing smaller clothes, fitting and being comfortable on an international flight, to curling up on the sofa with your legs tucked under – to even taking control even further and attending the circuit training class that I have wanted to do so all year. It’s brutal but I can do it is the point. There have been times if I’m honest where I have questioned what I have done, why am I not the size 12 I so want to be. I’m a 16 every one has self-doubts. I usually come here and post when one of those black clouds are hovering – this site and the wonderful members have been my foundation for success without them I’m not sure what I would be like.. YOU GUYS ROCK!! I’m hoping that by sharing someone who is on the fence about WLS whether it is the band, bypass or sleeve just know that there are many many of you out there with the same questions concerns. I’ve recently pledged to be a voice/representative for True Results where I had my surgery done. Yea you can look at it that it’s free advertisement for them if folks like me go out and share our journey but I look at it like this. If I can help change just one person’s life by sharing my experience than why not. I wish someone would have found me earlier in my journey – having someone to share it with that understands what you are going through makes such a difference. So if you’re in the phoenix area or even if you’re not and are considering weight loss surgery (WLS) and want to chat feel free to message me. If nothing else it is always great to talk and meet new people. To our journeys may they end where we want them to and may there be joy and laughter along the way.

Dear Diary: I am so excited. My surgeons aa called a few hours ago with my dates: JULY 06, 2007: Office visit and hosp. preops. EKG/X-ray, blood work, and whatever else? JULY 19, 2007: SURGERY - won't know the time til the day before. aw shucks! I was so excited when she called, I didn't even remember that it was last July 19th I was rushed by ambulance, to the hospital - with as my doctor told me - (after I made it through) - "one foot on a banana peel and the other in the grave." Pondered for a moment whether the date would bother me. But decided, it was last July 19th the doctors saved my life and this July 19th I'm going to do something to change my life. And to be completely honest with you - that was the first date available. If I'd said no, the following week - I'd be kicking myself in the butt about it that whole extra week - for being superstitious or paranoid about the date. The first thing - even before coming here, was to join the Lucky '07's - the July Bandster thread. I feel such a relief. Three weeks from today. I can do that! Deep breath!

I was banded last Thursday, and won't go back until next Monday...so about 10 days for me.

I am so happy to have found this app! This can be a scary process. I have a great support system but it's good to "hear" from people in my situation. The pre-op part that worries me the most is the liquid diet 10 days beforehand. But I can't wait to begin this new journey!

Congratulations on your weight loss! I was sleeved on 11/19. I just had my dietitian visit today and she told me that average weight loss the first 4 months was 40 % of the EXCESS body weight. So if you had 100 pounds to lose than 40 obs in 4 months would be average. That being said, I want to emphasize like others on this thread that each person is individual and not to expect specific numbers.