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I have 3 days to go till surgery and im still so nervous. I cant believe i have to remove a portion of my stomach in order to be able to lose this weight. Is there anyone who did this that has no problems? Im really hoping all goes smoothly and i dont suffer too much and it will all be so worth it.

I think we all gurgle sometimes. You said you haven't lost any weight in the 5 months since being banded. Have you had any fills, what are you eating, are you exercising???

I would only suggest some waist less dresses, they are already big and flowy they could only look better as you drop the weight... Depending on their color use could use them into fall with leggings, tall boots and a sweater... If you must buy something. Otherwise just holding on til you shrink out of your current clothes would probably be more fun. If you need to shop get a new lip gloss it will still fit later on lol. "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them" Einstein

I was told my LAP-BAND® system has a leak. I already had the port replaced in May 2009 but that did not work. Now they want to replace the entire system. Thay paid for the port replacemeent and now they are acting like I may have to pay my part for the band again. My doctor told me this was in no way my fault . My original surgery was done in May 2008 and the adjustments were never completely done before I started having problems. They are offering other types of weight loss surgery which I opted against the first time and still feel very uncomfortable having. Does anyone else have any experience like this or any suggestions for me. Any advice is much appreciated. Thank You

I'm 28 years old banded in 2010 start weight 320 lowest weight 180 current weight 256 9 months ago I gave birth to my son. the day I had him I was 252. I started experiencing problems with my band and have to get all the Fluid removed. I have since had 4ccs put back in but struggling to lose the weight I'm looking for people to help keep me motivated looking for healthy lifestyle buddies! Sent from my SM-G920W8 using BariatricPal

I’m two years out and I have gained about 40lbs how do I get back on track

Hi Heather, my life has changed a lot. I am very happily married. My husband is very supportive. More supportive then I could even imagine. He wants me to be happy and also supports me with my plastic surgery indeavors. Our sex life is much better given the fact that I have lost 105 lbs. I am more self confident, enjoy buying clothes etc. I know it will change again once I get my plastic surgery. I am sure it will only make me feel that much better and enhance our lives as well. I am also very successful with my career which is not new. I enjoy seeing all my friends at work and updating them on my progress. Every time I see a team member they always comment on my weight loss which feels very good. I have only positive things to say about my weight loss and the relationships they have affected. Julie

Hi everyone, Well, I was on this board about a year ago and now I'm back, so, I'll reintroduce myself. I live in TN and am a single "mom" to my two dogs and a cat. I have been overweight all my life but really never thought about it until I joined the Army in 1995 and had to lose weight to join. While in the Army I maintained a weight around 135lbs but was still overweight by their standards and had to be "taped" at every weigh in. I'm now at the heaviest I've ever been and having severe sleep apnea (have a sleep study scheduled in two days) and not I've seemed to have developed acid reflux. I did research on the lap band (the procedure I want to get) a year ago but thought I could work through my eating issues but here I am a year later and heavier than last year. I'm going to a seminar in July and I'm making my sister go. My sister will be supportive and although my mom doesn't think I should get it, she too will be supportive once its done. I look forward to learning a lot on the board and asking questions. I'd like to speak or email anyone that had their surgery done in Nashville. Good luck to everyone. Melinda

This is such a scary process at times and sometimes I wonder if I am doing the right thing. I am so scared of so many things, not sure if I remember what it is like to be a skinny person... and did I not like something about.... why the hell did i gain all this weight. It is a little crazy this is what I look like. And the worst part is when I do rarely catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror i dont recognize myself because is my head I dont look like this... Anyhow I NEED a buddy, getting banding Oct 26, that is this monday at Jefferson Hosp in Philadelphia, Dr Tchansky is my doctor. I live in South Jersey, 1 kid, and 30 years old , bmi 53, ... Does anyone want to be my buddy? I like to email a lot :thumbup: waverly79@gmail.com

Sorry if this is the wrong section! I'm 23 years old, and was one of many divorce babies. My father is basically on the list of the most terrible fathers. Our relationship basically went to the grave when he and his then wife tried to put my brother in jail(long story-my brother is awesome and didn't actually do anything). Two years ago I decided I wanted to try and have a relationship, regardless of how much I wanted to never talk yo him, I used to be a daddy's girl after all so I was being a bit hopeful. I moved in with him and started a RN program (didn't have enough money to be on my own-lives 4 hours from my home town aka no mom to run to!). Basically for the whole year I was ignored, his new step children (11 and 16) basically acted out to make me look like a horrible person. Honestly I didn't blame them, I have been there, I had hated my step siblings(he's on his forth wife), it's a horrible time in any child's life. But, my dad doesn't have the ability to love more than one section of his family apparently and I kept getting talked down too. Fun stuff being a 21 year old, in an amazing educational program and your father not believing a word you say to put his new children into golden light. Anyways, I was at school 8-5(left at 5am, go go small towns in Texas being so far away) then I was a CNA for a paraplegic patient on the weekends fri-Sun for 8 hours each day. I barely made more money than I spent on gas, was stressed from nursing school, and stressed from a horrible situation at home. Then my closest cousin was in a car accident and became a paraplegic. I basically snapped. I've been battling depression since I was 13, I have had multiple suicidal episodes, and they were coming back. I dropped school and moved back to my mom's, because I would definitely had gone through with it if I stayed any longer. Obviously this is when I got help, other things have been rough as well but not really worth mentioning atm- I guess other than I had a long term bf, a miscarriage, and a bad break up, I shot up to 295lbs. I was really mad at myself. So I started the process and eventually got sleeved October 9, 2013. So far I have lost 50lbs and feel a million times better. I was/am happier than I had/have ever been. Well now I am currently at my dad's house just for the night to reapply to RN school to finish my degree-getting my own apartment this time, not making that mistake twice! I haven't really talked to him or seen him in two years, I really thought he'd notice how much I lost and be, idk, like a father? And try to encouraged me. Didn't say a word. Didn't ask how I have been with it. Didn't ask what my plans were about school. He just kept running around with a phone to his ear to avoid an actual conversation. Even though I am at the point in my life where I don't really care about having an actual relationship with him anymore, I guess a small part of me thought he'd want to know the person I had become after I started getting skinnier, dumb I know haha. Its hard to totally get wanting your parent's acceptance out of your head even if you know better. I guess my question is, has anyone had to deal with something like this? How did you finally show your heart what your head already knows? I'm really struggling with letting this go, and I was in such a good place, I don't want to go back to being the depressed girl, I am a much better happy person! Sorry for the rant, I just don't really have someone else to talk to, wanted to be thorough! And, I have talked to professionals pretty much all my life, hasn't really helped. All the medications they put me on only made me gain weight and didn't really work, so I currently do not take anything. Oh and, mini victory, instead of eating my feelings when he was rude when I arrived, I went jogging, that's a first for me lol.

You are not alone - go to the thread "An uncomfortable truth" in the Tell Your Gastric Sleeve Stories. It's huge but read what M Reverie posted to start with, then either read it all (have a spare few hours, lol) or dip into. It will help with how you feel :-) Lots of us have families/parents who have done what your father is doing to you. You have a choice. Let him keep doing this to you, affecting your life without him even knowing or caring - or you change the way you react to his behaviour. If someone is going to be the way they are, we can't change them but we can change how we respond to it. Not easy, but do-able. Don't give him power over you to sabotage your weight loss, no-one is worth that even if we love them.Love that you went jogging, fantastic!!! At 23 years old, you have had more than your share of grief and difficult times. But what doesn't kill us, usually makes us stronger :-) and you have shown you are fighter. Find someone you can talk to because if you find the right person, it will help. Vent on this site - you will get help, advice, sympathy, empathy, support and hugs from people who've been where you are. Please don't give up, focus on you and making your life the best it can be. You are doing great with your weight loss, congratulations and good luck! Keep posting so that we know you are ok x

Hey Dianne, First let me say, "the lady at the front desk" sometimes make you feel you are bothering her. I guess she is very busy, but she can be really nice. So just look over that. If I were you...I would call Bobbi and leave her a VM. Just tell her you have already received your paperwork for the approval from the insurance and you just want to see what is next or when she can expect to hear back with a date. I did that and she called me the next day with 3 dates. So try that...you might be surprised. Just remember there is a reason for everything so hang in there and your time will come. Believe me I know the waiting is horrible. I saw Dr. V today for my first fill. Finally it was 2 weeks late but at least I didn't gain anything.

Hi Jinjin, I just started week 10 post op. I had 2 stalls within 8 weeks. My first 4 weeks were awesome...lost 30 lbs. Then at week 5 I came to a screeching halt...I even gained close to 3 lbs in weeks 5, 6, and 7. Yes, I had a 3 week stall and was freaking out the whole time!!! Reading these boards helped me so much. I stopped weighing myself every day, now just weigh-in every other day. Somewhere between week 8 and 9 I stalled again for a few days...BUT, after all is said and done...Since July 1st (the date my first stall started) I have lost another 7 lbs. And I'm good with that. If you look at some postings of long-time sleevers, you see the number of lbs. lost really go down after the 1st and second month. I've realized it isn't how fast I get it off, but that I KEEP getting it off...and ultimately that it stays off. I was complaining on previous posts that when I stalled at about 30-35 lbs, this was the same amt I've lost on countless other diets, it felt like the same old bad vibe. BUT with my pre-op diet loss, I am at 45 lbs. lost. Now that is a new one for me! I have not seen this weight since I was a teen. And now I know, the weight loss may stall, but it will not stop anytime soon. Stop worrying! You WILL keep losing and you will become happier and healthier! It took me a week or 2, but now I'm not worried, I am just trying to stick to the rules...and rule#1 for me, low carbs...40g or under a day if I can; less than 1000 cal a day if I can, and all my Water. Exercise is my issue right now, but it may not be a coincidence that when it increased, my weight decreased and my stall broke. I am a very "the glass is half full" kind of person, and this is what I now say to myself: "I CAN'T wait for my next stall !!!" Because that means between now and then I will lose some weight, and then once the stall is over, I will lose again!!! Yay for stalls!! (I know, I know...get over myself! ) Take care, I hope some of these words are helpful to you.

How much more weight are you going to lose. Which is usually followed by you look too skinny now. I have been saying well when my body is done it will stop, but wanted some new ideas.

I have had those stalls a lot along the way. It sounds like you are doing everything right. When the weight stops falling off try to remember that it's your body adjusting to everything. Keep measuring your inches, because when you are working out you may be replacing fat with muscle and muscle takes up less space...and looks much better so the scale might not be moving, but that doesn't mean you aren't getting smaller. I know that right now I weigh 170 and can fit a size 9-14... And the last time I weighed 170 I didn't work out at all...and I was in a size 14-16 then. Working out makes a lot of difference! Keep smiling! You will get there!

I had my procedure on October 4th. My pre-op weight was 284. It will be six months since my surgery and I am now 224. However, this last month it seems as though I only lost maybe 2 or 4 lbs. I joined a gym last week and went 4 times. I have started walking, I eat/drink as much protein as I can and dring plenty of water. I need a jump start to continue the weight loss. I wanted to have reached my goal of 180 lbs by May; but if the weight doesn't start to come off again, I am afraid that I won't make it. Can someone suggest something.

Oof! That hurts. I agree that you may have gained some muscle there, but I question whether it would have made any real difference. If you were able to get onto Group Health coverage, I'd recommend them. Your admission is into a program, partway through which is the surgery. I presume that re-application means another 18# to lose? If so, I think you were on the right track with the < 1700 cal regimen. That's what I did, but I also only did 40 minutes of walking each day, not the triathlon you were pulling off. Good luck with the new application.

This is a reminder to me to treasure my second chance through wls, I wanted to share. A.coworker needed to lose 17 lbs in five weeks in order to qualify for special training (she's in the military). She dropped the weight through plastic wraps, zero carbs, steam room, something called laser Lipo, and a weight loss drug she bought in Mexico-- some kind of amphetamine . She met the weight but was unable to do complete her physical training because she collapsed. She went to the hospital and her heart is arrythmic and the IVs for fluid have been difficult because she is dehydrated. She had a staph infection and developed energy to the antibiotic she was given. It's awful! Before wls I did several unhealthy things to lose weight. If I hadn't had wls I might still be trying things that I knew wouldn't work. If you are thinking about wls, please know that it can finally end the crazy train of fad diets and desperation if you use it as it was meant to be used.

Hi Eric! Welcome to the fold...lol. Your BMI for insurance purposes is what you start at, so if you lose weight it will not effect your approval, but some docs do require you to lose weight prior to surgery, and they definately don't want you to GAIN. Any weight loss prior will only make the surgery go easier. Your doc will give you guidlines to follow. As for the approval letter, it probably varies from insurance to insurance, but mine did send me a letter, although that wasn't until after I submitted all my documentation, and completed my 3 month supervised diet period. You can always call your insurance to be sure....one piece of advice...don't assume anything! Always check to comfirm things have been done or submitted as needed every step of the way. Will save you a lot of greif in the end. Good luck!

Roberta, I think you are absolutely right in thinking that many people (most???) who have WLS think that's it - they've done their part - and then go their merry way without changing anything else. The body is an amazing thing, how it can compensate for what we do to it. But the mind... WOW The mind is the most amazing thing of all. We can change our thoughts and habits, but it takes work, and there is no quick fix. In the end, WLS is a tool to help us change our habits. I wish it was billed more that way, than as a way to "lose weight". Because again, I think for most people, that focus on "losing weight" is a false focus. The focus SHOULD be (IMHO) changing our habits and thought processes about food. That is WAAAAY easier to do when our capacity for large quantities of food is removed, and that constant physical hunger is turned off. But, it doesn't happen automatically. So if we don't work on the mind part, when the body starts compensating, the weight will creep back on. I certainly believe that compensation is not as drastic for the lapband as the RnY, but we still need to work on changing our habits, just in case we ever fall into that 1%-3% that must have our bands removed for whatever reason.

Every doc is different. Some require a certain amount of weight loss BEFORE - both so that the area he'll be working will be a bit smaller and less fatty to get around in OR to see how determined you are to lose weight. Many will tell you that your liver is harder to handle and more easily nicked in the surgery if it is what is called 'fatty liver'. So, they ask you to lose some weight before to lessen the chances of this happening. It might be worth making some changes on your own just to insure the most optimal conditions once your under the knife. It is your life and your health after all. Good luck to you and congrats on a date!

I'm very happy for you... just remember things work out a for a reason. Do not even focus on the wieght gain, once you will see your baby in your arms it will be worth every pound gained. I like the names you picked out, but Isabella stands out, that name is very pretty. I'm just curious, though, have you had any other complication with your pregancy because of the band? How soon after the pregancy did you have to get an unfill? I'm just trying to get info for me, since I had been trying to get pregnant for 2 years before the band and just in case and if with this weightloss I might get lucky!

I love the name Isabella. My daughter just gave us our first grandbaby and I wanted her to name her Isabella so bad but instead it's Briana which now I love to. Good luck on your new baby and your new go at marriage. I've been married to my husband for 25 years and we still have our days where we could walk out and not look back so I think everyone does you just have to keep on keeping on as my Dad tells me. Don't worry about your weight, taking care of dh and 2 children and the band it will all come off.