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Hi Everyone. My name is Cindy and I am waiting for my primary insurance to send their denial letter so my surgery can be scheduled. My primary insurance will not pay, but my secondary insurance will pay. Plus secondary insurance does not do pre-authorization letters. So, as soon as the denial letter is received from the primary insurance we can schedule my surgery. My surgeon said it will most likely be mid-May. I have thought of myself as being overweight most of my life. Looking back on it, I was a twig when I graduated from high school. It's just that those who were around me were so petite. I had one successful pregnancy 30 years ago and was never able to lose the excess weight I gained then. Over the years I have tried every diet, sensible and fad, that I could find with varying results. But every time I lost weight on a "diet" I would put it back on and then some when the "diet" was over or I got sick of it. Over the last 3-5 years my weight has been steadily creeping up and I am so tired of being tired and out of breath all the time. I want to be able to do things with my grand-children but I am not able to do much of anything for more than a few minutes at a time before I need to rest. I am winded just walking up one flight of stairs to our bedroom so I avoid having to up and down as much as possible. I started my surgical weight loss journey about 5 months ago. It took longer for me to decide this was really what I needed to do than it has to do all the prerequisite visits, tests, and screenings. I really wanted to get the gastric sleeve but it is excluded by my insurance, so I will be getting the by-pass instead. The reason I wanted the sleeve was to avoid the malabsorbsion (sp?) and to be able to continue taking my anti-inflammatories for my osteo-arthritis. However, I have made peace with having the bypass and having to make the commitment to be really careful to get the proper nutrients and supplements to keep my healthy; because that is what this is all about anyway. I want my life back. I am sick of living a half life. In February I joined a gym and hired a personal trainer. I have not lost any weight, though my body composition has improved, I have more lean and less fat than I did when I started exercising. The best thing about doing this is that I have found something that I love to do. I can't believe I would ever say that I love going to the gym and working out with a trainer. It is fantastic and I am really looking forward to the improvements I will see after I begin working out again after I am healed from the surgery. I am sure the that the walking that I will be doing during the healing process will get me ready for even more intense work outs than I have been able to do to this point. My husband had this same surgery 14 1/2 years ago. He never had the kind of support that is available today and is amazed at the amount of pre-surgical preparation and information that I am getting. He lost about 80 pounds when he had his surgery and over the years had put some of it back on. But since I have started my journey he has been using the things that I have been learning and has lost nearly 15 pounds since December. He is nearing his lowest post-surgical weight. I think he is even more excited about me having this surgery than I am. He is being very supportive. When I told my family back in January that I was considering having surgery they were all very supportive. My best friend, who is more like a sister than merely a friend, decided that it was time for her to have bariatric surgery as well. She had not heard of the gastric sleeve before, so as soon as I told her about it she started researching it for herself. Last month she flew to Mexico and had it done. When I talked with her several days ago she had lost a total of 29 pounds (including the pre-surgery weight loss). Anyway, I feel like I have a great support system in place. And I am SOOOO ready to make this change in my life and to make it a permanent change. It's funny, I have never felt so certain about, or committed to, any of my previous weight loss attempts. This is my year for change.

Sounds better than me. 310 at start on Sept 13, now im 287. 23lbs in 8 weeks (2 months!). What a crock of **** this procedure is, for me at least! Ive been the same damn weight for the last 3 weeks, then 2 weeks prior, i was the same damn weight for 3 weeks. Only reason i lost weight was because straight outta surg (iv probably) and i got sick and couldnt eat another week. But being not sick, eating right, exercise ever single day...nothing. You have no idea how disappointed i am at this procedure in me. Its not like its been 10lbs a month either. Like i said, it was 10lbs loss in 1 week from sickness, 9lbs first week out...and thats it. Im so disgusted.

I'm glad you figured it out Lauren. My nutritionist/surgeon also said 30 grams or under and I pretty much did that until 3 months post-op and then decided to add fruit back in, which upped the carbs considerably. My weight loss started to slow quite a bit at that point, but I still lost. Good luck!

A. You are not "bad". B. You are human, that's why you did that. C. Remember how you feel and think about that next time you are tempted to make a bad choice. If we were perfect we would not all need weight loss surgery!! It exists because there is a whole sub-category of people who can't control what and how much they eat. I am also a volume eater and that's why I chose the band and it has been a wonderful thing so far for 6 months. Dont' give up, Learn and move on. And try really hard for the next few days until your surgery....your surgery will be easier on you and the surgeon if you have followed the pre-op diet!! Good luck!!

I'm considering this surgery after researching all the bariatric surgery options. It seems it has the least amount of side effects, a great initial weight loss, and a decent long term weight loss. It all sounds really great, but I need to hear the "dark side" of it all, before I make the decision. I need to know the worst of the worst before I move forward with this plan. A little about me, I'm 31, 5'10", 280lbs. my BMI is 40. I've just had my second child 4 months ago, and my post-baby weight is the same as my pre-baby weight...which, as it happens, is the weight I've been for the last 6 years. I've always been an athletically built girl...never super skinny...but at my best shape, I was a size 10 and weighed 170. I also didn't have 2 kids, a husband, and a career, so it was a little easier to take care of myself. Weight problems run in the family; my mom and younger sister are both morbidly obese, as are all the women on my mom's side of the family. No one really sticks to a diet or exercise program, they just like to complain and blame their lots in life on their weight. I'd like to break the cycle while I'm still young, and can enjoy an active lifestyle with my family, etc. I feel like the surgery could give me the boost I need to lead a healthy, active, confident lifestyle I so desperately want. BUT, I'm concerned about the post-op world I'll live in. Here are some questions I have: 1. since you can't eat much, is your energy really low? I have to take care of 2 kids, so low energy is not too appealing 2. will you ALWAYS only be able to eat small amounts? Or, will your stomach stretch back to normal size eventually? 3. once you get past the first few weeks of liquid and soft foods, what dietary restrictions are there in your normal, day-to-day life? 4. I've heard you can throw up if you eat too much, what other physical side-effects can I expect post-op? 5. any regrets??? Thanks in advance for all your feedback. Some days I think this is the best idea ever, and other days, I think I'm crazy to consider it... just looking for answers either way at this point.

Tough situation but I wouldn't beat myself up if I don't get the exercise in. It just means your food choices will be very important. They say 80% of weight loss is what you eat anyway. Hopefully you can get some nice walks in on the weekends with the kids.

OMGoodness... I was so freaked out by thinking my hair was going to fall out. And basically resided myself to that reality before I had the surgery. I am not all that vain. But I have really long hair and have had it all my life long. So, it would have been really weird to loose it. But I worried in vain. Sure, I lost some. But not a lot. Only noticeable to me. I wish I didnt worry so much. Most people only notice themselves. And it grows back.

It's wondering how long everyone took off work and if you thought it was enough. I'm a hairstylist & makeup artist, but I work from home and make my own schedule. I'm hoping to take a week off and then start up again, with breaks in between each client. Work an hour, relax an hour. Does this sound do-able? I have known my clients for years and they won't mind if I'm doing their hair in pj's or sweats. So I literally can walk downstairs, so a few clients and be done.

Hi everyone - I had my consultation January 25th and just didn't feel comfortable with the surgeon. I had posted before that I believed he was an excellent surgeon, but didn't really seem to address my concerns and I thought aftercare might be lacking. I have done a lot of research since then, and I just scheduled an appointment with a second surgeon. She is with a large medical group that has a full weight loss program with psychologists, nutritionists and support groups. I think this may be exactly what I am looking for. I hope things go well and I will you keep you all posted.

Oh man, I can't imagine not coloring my hair LOL Ugh. But..anything that may help I guess Thanks for the suggestions! 6-7 months out I can see regrowth? Not too much longer! I just hope it's not a ton more hair gone before then lol

When I was going through chemo, I lost about 2/3 of my hair. Mostly all in one day. Here are some tricks that I used that seemed to help. 10,000 Biotin every day. Do not comb or brush your hair. Finger comb. Do not use any heated appliances on your hair. No blow dryers, no curling irons, etc. Do not have any treatments added to your hair. No straightening, no coloring or perming. Get some Aloe Vera juice and spray your scalp with it at least once a day. It conditions the scalp. No hats. No barrettes. Nothing that is likely to pull at your hair. Hope that helps!

I lost 43 during the whole process not within 14 days post opt! I starting working on my weight the day I left the consultation and from Sept 11 til Jan 31, 2013 I lost 43 lbs! To be honest I don't do pics because I have shared my decision to have the surgery with anyone but 1 close friend and my mother and sister! But I will email you my pics of the my weight loss prior to surgery and of course ill keep you updated with the weight loss pic after surgery but I don't believe I lost to much because its only been 4 days!

Welcome! Great job on the weight loss!!!

I got my Mom the things she loves but would never splurge and buy for herself... poupouri infusion oil, her favorite perfume, scented candles, candy, scented draw liners, a gift certificate to have her hair done and a manicure, and a nitie and robe. I'm also cooking dinner for her and my Aunt.

I had surgery on October 15th I was 19st 9 lb as of today I'm 14stone 10lb when will I start to slow down?? I'm 5 ft 10 so only want to loose another 2stone 10 lb

Floridays, I have seen a lot of people on the same pre-op diet as you were on. It sure makes me feel very fortunate to be on the pre-op diet I was given. Oh, and looking at your weight loss history since you were banded, may I say "excellent job".

That is so funny - my husband JUST threatened to hide the scale and I think I am going to have to let him. I can't resist. I can tell my clothes are fitting differently and I am obviously eating far less, I am just anxious. I am on the lower side I guess, given that I only have a little bit more than 100 to lose - so if the more you need to lose the faster you lose is true, that makes sense. Congrats on your loss!!

Yeah, ppl can be mean and jealous or just judgmental. Many ppl i told about the lap band did not listen to my explanation and tought it was by pass. Some ppl told me after the operation, well i didnt want to tell you, but my friend died on the o table, after hours of surgery! I said that is because it is not the same surgery At allllll!!!!!! Once they see you loosing weight, thwy will think differently. A woman at my work had it done 3 yrs ago, my mother didnt understand her And was so quick to say how dangerous it was. Finally, other ppl got it done, and the day i told my mother i wanted the surgery, she wS just waiting for me to bring it up, because her too thought ppl were succesfull. Another thing, our dr say not to tell too many ppl, because the weight loss is not that quick. I Am in this phase, i feel everyone is wAtching me

congrats on the weight loss and Happy Birthday. Welcome to the group. There is a wealth of info and support here. So glad you found us. Sounds like you are really getting a handle on all this post op. Good to hear. Again Welcome.

You know, days like that are just going to happen, I think. You just have to dust yourself off, and do better tomorrow. Or better still, make up for it at dinner. Just have a light dinner, and maybe go for a walk or something. Get the kids out of the house and make them walk around the block with you. For me, Doc told me at my initial consult in the first week of October that he wanted to see me lose 5-10 lbs in the 3 months of pre-op. I'd accomplish this mostly by cutting out the liquid calories, including milk. Skim milk. MILK?!? Okay fine. Well, then I'm going all in. I set up my food tracker goal to stay under 1800 cal/day. Most days, I'm between 1000 and 1400. Every couple of week though, I'll have a day - a meal - where I just don't give a F and I'm going to enjoy that burger at Five Guys. I skip the fries, but still, that meal wrecks my goal for the day. No biggie though, because on my worst week - Thanks giving week I didn't even bother weighing in, but the week after - I was net zero from two weeks before. No loss. No gain. I could live with that. One of the reasons I don't care about the occasional Burger day is because I know that after being Sleeved, that won't even be an option. Another reason is because I've lost over 25 lbs in the time the doc wanted 5-10. I really want to do this. I think it's my best chance at long-term success. If I get denied though, plan B is to just keep doing what I'm doing. My point of this statement? Don't let this goal hinge on something outside of your control, like finances. Get busy.

I have never heard of Metformin for weight loss. I am on it and have been for years for type 2 Diabetes. I need Lap Band surgery lol So the Metformin didn't help me lose weight. Makes your bowels work good though hahaha... Whats the harm, take it, it will help your blood sugar. Once you loose your weight you probably won't need it at all!

Congratulations on your successful surgery and weight loss thus far. I am 61 and will be having surgery in August. Please keep me posted on your progress! Best wishes!

Yeah! Congrats on your loss. Karen

Congrats on your loss so far!

And try (weight loss for dummy's cookbook) to there are some great recipes for all stages of WLS Surgery Anniversary 7/30/12