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On January 11th following my husband's back surgery- I went home after a very long day that included working overnight at the hospital- I went home and got in the bathtub that I barely fit in. That's right- I barely fit in the tub- and if you ask my daughter I was stuck in the tub- I was not- but still. I got out of the tub almost in tears. How could I have let myself get so out of control? How did this happen. I had literally doubled in size since graduating from high school 19 years ago. How do you gain 140 lbs? I have a million excuses; freshman 30 (it was 40 for me); two kids (another 60 lbs) nursing school (another 40 lbs)- but that really isn't the reason is it? It is a lifetime of bad decisions ie not eating the right foods and not exercising. I couldn't take it anymore. I started researching WLS and came across the gastric sleeve. The next day I called the insurance company and they set me up with the information I needed. On February 12th I went to my first weight loss meeting at the surgeon's. I got all of the information and started the program which included, labs, a sleep study (followed by cpap compliancy), a pulmonary function test, xrays, H pylori testing, an echo, a stress test, 6 months on a doctor assisted diet, a psych evaluation, and therapy as ordered per the psychiatrist. Did I forget to mention that I am as healthy as a morbidly obese person can be? no hypertension, no high cholesterol, no diabetes, no musculoskeletal disabilities- I had done 5k's (I did, however, fail my sleep study) but that was all. Now 9 months later and I have finally been approved!!!! My surgery date is January 11th (exactly 1 year after making the decision- how ironic is that?) I am excited and scared all wrapped into one. Let me clarify, I am not scared of surgery- I am a registered nurse that has worked med/surge and medical telemetry floors- I am very familiar. I am scared to death of failure. But, I am the Little Engine that Could...I keep saying, I think I can I think I can

You are averaging about 10 pounds per month, I think that's great! You have not failed. Like most have said, you may just need to tweek your eating plan to make sure you are getting enough calories, Protein and Water. Let your Bariatric team know what's going on...call them. I have noticed that sometimes family is the last to see our weight loss. In my case it seems to be people I see randomly, like the cashier at the grocery store or the dog groomer. Hang in there and be proud of what you have already accomplished!

what your feeling is very normal! I am 10 days out, and went through the same thing u are going through....hang in there!! It WILL get better!! The thing that worked the best for me was a heating pad, and taking 2 gas-x strips. And...WALK WALK WALK!! My husband massaging my neck and shoulder also helped to loosen up the gas! Good luck!! Hang in there!

I'm having an internal struggle as to which surgery I should have. I have a lot of weight to lose - almost 200 lbs. Most of which was gained in the last 2 years. I know I need to discuss this with the surgeon, but I'm still on the fence myself. I like the idea of the band as being a tool instead of actually changing my anatomy. But then with say the sleeve or the rny, the weightloss is faster. But its not all about how fast you lose - I know that. I keep thinking to myself that I can lose that much with the band. But then I think - then why can't I do it without the band? I've not been in this situation for a lifetime or even a great portion of my life so its difficult for me to comprehend. Sure, I've struggled with my weight my whole life, but up til I got sick in 2006, I always won those battles. Sure, I was a little overweight but I was healthy and happy. And now I'm far from healthy and I can't even see happy from where I'm at. Its not just that I'm sad. I'm ANGRY. I had started my training to run a half marathon. Yeah - i was in great shape! Then one day....The world toppled down on me. Combining not lifting weights, not running every day with making poor food choices and being depressed because I couldn't do what I wanted, then add in the IV treatments and the steroids, which caused more depression which caused more poor food choices and more eating - yeah I can see how I got here. I know I would have gained a lot of weight even without the poor food choices, but I just added insult to my own injury. I take full responsibility for Jack in the Box for dinner and breakfast nearly every day for quite a while. OH - and you bet that's a large fry with that. Diet coke, of course to drink. Or Iced tea - unsweetened! I'm on a diet, afterall! I kick myself every day for making a bad situation worse. There's no telling what point I would be at if i had made better food choices. I know it wouldn't be at the 200 lb overweight mark. But maybe just 100 lbs. 100 lbs is doable! I can deal with that. But TWO HUNDRED?! What the hell did I do to myself? And all because I was sad that I couldn't run. Yeah. That makes sense. Now, I'm so far beyond being able to control this that I now have to have a device put in my stomach OR have 3/4 of my stomach removed in order to even be healthy. Uhm WHAT?! I guess I'm an overachiever. I did in 2 years what it takes some to do in a lifetime! But. I'm addressing it now. I'm doing what I need to do to get healthy. It wasn't all that long ago. I don't need the pictures to remember what it was like to be a size 8/10. I remember how it felt. I remember that I could sit in any chair, climb a ladder, run stairs in 4 inch heels and put my feet behind my head *lol* it wasn't that long ago! So yeah - there's a bit of speed factor going on in my mind. But there's also a lot of "I don't wanna go through this again" going on too. But I know my lifestyle. I know what I want to do in the future and that tells me that its going to be the band or sleeve. Then I have to think about longevity - which again, is probably band. But can I just control it and do the sleeve? I just don't know that I want to alter my anatomy. But then again, if it was my foot that was killing me, I'd have that cut off.... So many thoughts. I know - meeting with the surgeon will really help. Buuuuut....the more I can work through in my mind first, the better. *ramble*ramble*ramble*ramble*

I'm in the midst of my stall. I was sleeved 10/25/12 and lost 99lbs before my 3 month checkup. I haven't lost a pound since. It's frustrating, but I know once it's over I'll drop another 15-20lbs quickly. So, we just have to be patient.

Right there with you!! Yesterday was 3 weeks since surgery and I have been on purees for 1 week at this point. Weight is the same today as it was on Sunday. I am meeting all my goals (protein, calories, fluids) and yesterday was my highest carb day (30 with 10 grams fiber=20 net) due to eating some mashed up borracho beans at a birthday party. Daily walking at our neighborhood trail of 1 mile a day. I refuse to let it bother me and fortunately I don't have any bad things in the house. This too shall pass!!

Stay Safe and Hopefully Well/Healthy Everyone! Hi, I got the Loop Duodenal Switch almost a year ago, done June 2019. Please, if you post, say the surgery without abbreviating it, as I am not familiar with the initials/abbreviations of the surgeries, unless you want to post a list that would be appreciated too. I wanted to know if you ever experienced losing weight too fast. If so, did it ever slow down, or did you gain it back? I have been told that I might have to have revision surgery because I am losing at the same rate as when I first got surgery, which will be a year ago in June. I don't want another surgery, as it was pure hell the days and weeks after surgery, for multiple reasons. I was told that I could go as low as 95 lbs, but I am already at 134 now, supposedly one will slow down weight-loss once they have reached 50% of weight-loss or something to that degree for the Duodenal Switch Loop. I am just curious as to if you wouldn't mind sharing what your weight-loss journey has been like if it has been more than 1 year and especially if it has been more than 2 years. Were there any concerns over losing too fast? If so, what helped without a revision surgery? I have to say at one point weight-loss was fast, I was able to slow it down after I was told that I would need revision surgery after the 1 year mark, mostly by food journaling. This COVID-19 ridiculousness got me off track again of losing slowly even though I went back to journaling. I hate to say this but with my own journey, Although I start off by listening, I find that some of what a nurse/Dr. says sometimes is crap, so I want to make sure that the talk of me needing revision surgery is not more, crAp. What have you done, Help! I know that it may seem like a ridiculous thing to be alarmed about but I really can’t handle another surgery so I would like to know if this has happened to anyone else and what worked for you besides revision surgery. Thanks!

How should I calculate what is my ideal weight? My surgeon dodges this question. I played football in high school at 165. I wasn't skinny then, but pretty decent. Can't imagine being thinner than that but if I were to go by the BMI chart I'd have to get down lower than 145. That's not going to happen! Would it be better to measure body fat percentage and then calculate what I'd be at 10%? My stats: Height: 5' 8" Age: 46 Sleeved on 10/18/2017 HW: 270 SW: 233 CW: 222 GW: 170??

It wasn't so bad for my 10 day preop I didn't think I could do it but I did it I picked up pretty much only three things that I liked and that's what I had everything all day same thing for 10 days actually it's nine days and then the 10th day is clear liquid that's a hard day the day before clearly liquid. But it's over before you know it then you're in the hospital having surgery then afterwords you don't want nothing

When I was a fat little kid Halloween was the only day I didn't feel embarrassed at eating candy. At 10 or 11 I was too aware of being fat to trick or treat anymore. If I had been given a mean note like that it would have ruined Halloween for me at a younger age. If you are a fat kid you know it, you don't need some old hag pointing it out and it will probably make those little fat kids eat MORE candy out of frustration. Now I always work on Halloween night and so I don't buy candy. My husband will be home tonight but he is Diabetic so I told him he can't buy candy and to just turn off the porch light. If it fell on a night I was home I would have been scouring the stores for healthy treats.

Hi there hun:) Yes i am very short lol and Yes I did a pre-op diet. It was a 10 day all liquid diet. I won't lie...it definitely wasn't a breeze BUT for about 2 weeks leading up to my pre-op diet, I starting drinking 2 protein shakes and at supper I would eat only about a half of a cup to a cup of lean meat. I highly recommend doing this to prepare for such a strict diet. The diet is so very important to shrink your liver so that the doctor can perform the surgery. There were some days I felt like I couldn't do it but I did and lost almost 7 lbs in that 10 days. From November 20th to surgery day Dec 12th...I lost 16lbs. I was so proud of myself:) I am still healing. I am a stay at home Mom with a wonderful hubby that won't let me lift a finger right now but if I did work, I feel I could as long as I didn't lift anything because my port site is still very tender. I really wish you all the best hun and please keep me updated. If you ever have any questions, just shoot me a message!

Hi Amy I'm curious to know what happened with HIP. I have HIP as well and I am in the early early stages. I haven't attended the seminar yet at lenox hill (5/19) but I would like to know what I should be expecting. Thanks for sharing

im still pre op and take about 10 pills day, I cant wait to at leastst cut this in half and hopefully get rid of them all!! Congrats to you you must be thrilled!

I was banded 12/10 and my port site is still very tender. If I bend wrong or do to much then it starts throbbing. I have been to one post op appt and have another on in 5 days. I am sure this is all normal.

I have the very same pain. I was banded on 10/29/08 and I'm still having the pain. My surgeon said it was the stitches pulling. They stitch the port down and in doing to much to soon I either pulled the stitches or tore them a little. He advised me to take it easy and perscribed mucle relaxers. It is getting a lot better but in the beginning it was very painful. My port is right at my waistline so when I bend the stitches pull. He assured me it was not an infection because I did not have a fever, swelling, drainage or redness.

Thats great. I am going to buy some tommorrow. I hope I can lose the 10 by.the 13th.

I'm up tomorrow too... I have to be at my hospital at 8:25 am. Clear liquids today... I'm kinda hungry, but it's actually quite surprising just how filling lime Jell-O can be! What was really shocking to me was how easy it was to say goodbye to food for a while... I sort of thought I'd want to go eat a pint of Ben and Jerry's or 9 or 10 chocolate chip Cookies last night, but I actually had no desire for that junk at all. I have not been on a liquid diet pre-op, just a high-protein one which wasn't that hard, really. Good luck to you tomorrow!!!

Sweetie, please don't fret! It is so worth it... I can only speak from my own experiece but it's SO worth it, and I'm only 3 weeks post op... I have already lost over 10 pounds (maybe more, I have weiged myself this week) but I can tell you that no matter what, it's worth it. My surgery and recovery has been such a smooth transiton... I will say a little prayer for you tonight, and don't worry... everything will be wonderful... I promise! Send us a note when you get home tomororw and let us know how you're feeling... :biggrin: Hugs, Chi Town Susie!

Thank you for your encouaging words Slenderella Kristikay I was supposed to lose 30lbs before surgery but I gained 10...I think the same thing, 6 months is a long time, my doctor only requested a week of yougurt, unsweetend applesauce, sugar free pudding, popsicles, skim milk, protein shakes and raw veggies, jello, but It's hard to do this when I've contantly got people around me eating McDonald's, Taco Bell, and 7-11....once I made up in my mind hey I'm going to do this regardless of what's being eaten around me, I felt a lot better, still a little PO'd but I'll get over it. Time to start losing this weight, we both will! My surgery is September the 27th, only 1 more day, and this day I can only consume liquids, nothing red and no yogurt or veggies, just broth and protein shakes and nothing after midnight Wednesday.

I was sleeved on August 8th and have lost 12 pounds since then, but 10 of that was in the first week. I think a lot of it was water loss, as I was barely able to get any liquids down due to the swelling. Once the swelling went down and I replenshied my water, the scale seemed stuck for about a week. It has just started moving again in the last day or two. Hopefully it starts to pick up again. But, I am feeling great now. Almost back to normal and lots of energy. Good luck to everyone!

I'm 4 months out from my surgery, and things are going great. I had no issues prior to surgery, no co-morbidities, but a BMI of 47 which was the qualifier. Everything went perfectly before and since. The only problems I had were 1. sticking to the pre-op diet, I did not do well 2. pain much greater than I had anticipated the week following surgery 3. overthinking and worrying about things prior to surgery I feel very lucky. Having said all this, I see that there is a common theme among all of us whether preparing for surgery, or recently sleeved, and that is "how fast am I losing?" or "is this a normal rate of loss?" I have lost about 45 pounds in four months, and feel this is fantastic. It averages 2-3 pounds a week, around 10 per month. And it is consistent. If I stall, I don't even think about it. I know the weight will continue to fall off as my body adjusts. Never in my life have I lost weight and been almost 100% certain that I won't gain it back. But remember, that IS possible if you don't work on yourself and your habits. Fortunately - very, very fortunately - the sleeve is an amazing TOOL to help you make the changes you need to. Pay attention to the learning curve (I am still on it) you'll have along the way, and try to make the best choices you can MOST of the time. Look at your progress over a week's time, not every single day. Just do the best yo can. The only person you have to prove anything to is yourself. Be proud of yourself and the path you are on. That's all I got!

I bought $10 worth of baby food. Only attempted to eat one --- and donated the rest to a food drive. It was NOT for me.

It took me a long time to go down a size too. If you are like I was when I started, in the plus sizes, there is a BIG gap between sizes. The difference between a 22 and a 24 is a lot more than the difference between an 8 and a 10. Also, if you are like me, you were probably straining the upper end of that size you were wearing pre-op.

You see all sorts of things happening on this forum. I lost 10 on the pre op diet, and another 10 post op diet. I have a strict surgeon and basically liquids for 3-4 wks post op. It has been 6 months and I've lost a total of 30lbs+ since surgery. Bandster hell is where things slow down, its waiting the months for the appropriate amount of fill- so basically any weight loss is from sticking it out and exercising like heck. I'm 6 months out with 7cc and just probably in the green zone. Everyone's program is different. Some get lots of cc's right away. I get one a month if that. I can loose 1 lb a week steadily and I am an exercise fiend. Dr says now that I'm closer to goal and fit, things will probably slow down. I still have 40+ to go.