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First, thank you so much for the support and encouragement! Now here's the details: Surgery scheduled for 1:30 but didn't go in until 2pm. My husband stayed by my side up until the point and gave me a kiss as they wheel me in. There was a small TV screen and lots of nurses. I remember them giving me a shot through my IV and thinking they better get me on the operating table quick because I know this works fast. Sure enough that was the last thing I remember. I woke up in recovery thinking no way is this reversal because I was in a lot of pain and couldn't imagine goingthrough it again, but Part of my problem was an IV that was fully funcioning. They asked how much pain I was in and I said a 7 (1-10), but I would highly advised you to not feel like you're exaggerating and be honest so they give youmeds faster. I was on morphine drip but they gave me a needle of pain kilers with helped a lot. I was in recovery 2 hours until they managed the pain while my husband was in the waiting room. They didn't know he wasinthe waiting room and I think he could have been in recovery with me. So ask when you're in recovery is yr spouce can be with you. They took me to a private room. I was pretty dopey and at one point I just really wanted to sleep so at 7pm I told my Hubby to go home. But I couldn't sleep the entirenight because I had to keep pushing the morphine button every 10 minutes.The best thing I brought to the hospital was my ipod because I could close my eyes and relax. ...

Focus on healthy lifetime habits. Whole foods you make yourself are best. Exercise daily. Lots of water. As soon as you can, get off the protein powders and bars and eat real food. I had surgery at BMI 30. I am 6 months out and over those months lost an average of 10 pounds per month. I am in the exact center of the healthy weight BMI now, have tons of energy, look great and am super pleased with my progress. Don't worry about speed of loss, focus on how you will live for the rest of your life.

And that's 10 lbs since surgery! Its awesome that I've hit my first 10lb milestone but is this too fast? Should I be losing this quickly?

I just was sleeved in Nov 12th... My advice... I was having trouble getting my Water in... not because I can't tolerate it but because its such a chore... sip sip... every ten mins. What helps me.... Ice chips :-) I love the hospital pellet like ice... I remembered that a local fast food place "Sonic" serves that ice so I bought a 10 BAG FOR ABOUT $2.50 Ice to me is not such a chore ???? Lol... In fact it keeps my month entertained and not dry... That's my advice to you... WHAT'S YOUR ADVICE??? RE: Anything... Thanks

I am so sorry you are getting the run around! For some people it goes smooth as silk and within days their insurance approves, and they schedule surgery within weeks. For others the road is not so smooth. My story was that my insurance required a 12 month medically supervised diet program with a nutritionist consult monthly. Well I am in a rural area, and no nutritionists!!! A 3 hour drive away was my closest. So after several weeks they finally agree to let my PCP do the nutritionist consults---so I have 2 appointments with him every month--they would not combine them (co-pays of course---the almighty $$$). So for 10 1/2 months I meet with my Dr, twice a month, we scheduled and I did my sleep study, my psych evaluation, and a swallow study, that he required because I had GERD. Then one afternoon, going home, I was in a car accident, and was injured. When I had the resulting surgery, it caused me to cancel my appointment, and reschedule it. When I went in, the office manager---also the Dr.'s wife---told me I had violated the insurance conditions of coverage--my appointment was 4 days past a month! The insurance states it must be 12 consecutive months! Now I fully realize this was their policy, and I did violate it--with good reason, the one I was totally pissed at was my Dr. so I immediately changed Dr.'s----all I was to them was a steady stream of copays and insurance money. Well I began the new 12 month study, when they informed me, that insurance will only pay for the sleep study, and the psych evaluation every 2 years----and must be completed within 6 months of surgery. So....while I mulled my options, the insurance of the driver at fault contacted me, and offered me a cash settlement on my claim. I took it, grabbed my $$$$ and run for the border!!! Went to MX and had surgery by one of the Dr.'s that my original surgeon recommended. My DD dealt with military Dr.'s in treating infertility---and they were notoriously slow and behind things with her---where we have a mile of paperwork to do---when you are in the military you have 3 miles of paperwork. However, I have seen LBT members who have gotten it done through the military. It is excellent coverage! I hope they get it together for you! Have you looked into aftercare in Hawaii? Where are you going to be stationed? My DD was at Schofield Barracks---Oahu. Good Luck---keep pushing, I bet, when they get it together it will go much faster---seems like that is how it works! Kat

I just got banded Thursday the 13th, and went back to work on Monday the 17th for about 2/3 of the day. Worked over 1 hour on Tuesday, and worked 10 hours today. But, I work at a desk, it makes a huge difference on what you do. I also had a textbook surgery, no problems. I didn't have alot of sick time, it is a fairly new job. If you have the time, take it to heal as best you can! Good Luck! Jodie

Thank god I've been doing soo soo good! I even went back to work on Monday and during lunch I go the mall and walk for an hour. I've been drinking lots of water and I don't have to sip.. I can actually drink a lot. Today I decided to go the gym and I only went on the treadmill for 50min and lost 200 cal. Tomorrow I see my but for the first time after surgery. I hope he lets me starts my second phase since I've been doing so well. If not, I can still wait till Monday ... I am so motivated to lose weight and of course heal... I even motivated my co-worker who is struggling to lose weight to go the gym makes me feel good.

Wow... so sorry you endured that!! I never had it done. I decided to take meds for it and still am till this day. I also decided NOT to do bypass. I'm so glad I didn't do it. I still have some issues. Some spasms but not as nearly as I was. I will be 4 years out in May. I'm losing again and am so proud I kept off the weight I have. I still suffer but realize that some of the acidic foods I was eating like tomatoes bring the spasms on. The spasms were and are the worse pain I've ever felt. I take Levsin and Dexilant and it really helps. I decided I didn't want to cause more issues for myself having the bypass. I see so many complications with that surgery 10 years out. I'm not saying everyone will have issues... but I couldn't take the chance since my husband died of cancer and I'm alone here with no family to help. Blessings and prayers for you! I hope you don't have to have the bypass.

I got my lapband 9/22/10. I am wondering if my scale is broken. I got my last fill on June 7, my doctor felt I didn't need a fill but I told him I was very hungry at night. So he gave me .2 cc's under flourscopy. I think I have a total of 5.0 in a 10 cc band. He gave me the right amount to put me at my sweet spot. I really have to make myself eat, I don't get as hungry as I used to. The reason why I think my scale is broken is because the first week after my fill i lost 3 lbs. I went to my primary dr. and he has not seen me since i got my clearance to have the surgery. He was very happy with my weight loss. He was not happy that I had stopped taking my high blood pressure medicine and my blood pressure was high 130/100, he told me to start taking my medicine again and don't stop taking them. So that was a downer. This morning I got on the scale (I don't know why) it's friday and i usually only get on the scale on Mondays. What a surprise I lost 7 lbs. 5 more pounds and I have lost 100 lbs. Never thought I could do it. I am so pround of myself. I just need to make myself exercise more to tone up the flab. I do walk a lot. I hurt my shoulder a few months ago so that has made me stop. I have to start going to therapy, but going on vacation so will start when I return. At this rate I may be at my goal weight or close to it by 9/22/11.

So I get my first band fill on Thursday and I'm a little nervous but mostly excited. Just a little nervous of the unknown I guess not really the needles. I'm a pediatric nurse so I guess I have that to thank. Anyway still stuck at 26lbs hope this will help boost the wt loss again.

Alarm. 7.00 AM showered, maple and brown sugar oatmeal (for kate). went to make coffee, milk was outdated on November 7th & today is the 11th. suggested kate smell it to see if it was feasible. it was not. have to stop at dunkins donuts. at this point cole realizes banks are closed due to veterans day. now no coffee and no money. enter sisters wallet. 9:00 AM drs appointment mass general hospital downtown boston. seeing hand doctor for hand pain. (and not from slappin kate) he was a total toolbag and his assistant typed out our entire conversation. click click. clickety clicky. CLICK. instead of addressing my hand pain issue he psychoanalyzed me and said the pain is all in my mind. so i said i imagined that my hand hurt so much this morning i could not wipe my ass. his assistant still typing, click click clack. i felt like i was withstanding trial. as soon as we left the office kate declared, your hand doctor should get a foot up his ass. onto Boston common. sister sat on Mrs. mallard and i collected leaves to give to friends who live in tropical places and do not have fall leaves (which i made kate carry in her purse.) alot of men with tight pants, which kate pointed out are referred to as” moose knuckles" if you don’t have a visual of what that is, as kate said 10 times today, google it. especially one guy in yellow pants with yellow shoes. he was looking for his yellow hat, and we were looking for a curious monkey. Sorry we were laughing to hard to snap photo. we then went to the paper store. this is now kate talking now before i explain this, just a reminder that my sister nicole is 35. and i am 24. [kate] *points at table with miscellaneous items, but particularly a book about cupcakes picture included* "oh nicole, i almost got you that for christmas last year" *nicole turns around and looks at table, instead of asking, almost got me what?, she sees a stuffed chicken and with the enthusiasm of a 3 year old says " you almost.... got me.... the CHICKEN!" "really, oh my god" to which i have to reply, "no nicole, the cupcake book" She slumps down with a big "ooooooo" and frowns. Besides this incident, everything was going smoothly until I purchased 3 rolls of paper to use later to decorate a bulletin board. The lady at the store gives me a small bag that barely contains the long rolls of paper. Picture included. off to the Prudential building but were cool Bostonians so we will call it the Pru. Lunch at Wagamama. asian bistro. miso soup was had,with Japanese pickles and real ramen noodles with chicken. pictures included. this is a big moment people, i introduced kate to pinkberry frozen yogurt. pics also attached. I had a 200 calorie pumpkin with raspberry small frozen yogurt. Kate had a super sized. chocolate , with peanut butter crunchies and to top off the fat already around her liver, white chocolate shavings. 9000 calories. its 10 pm and this was at noon. she still wont stop asking to go back and bellyaching about how amazing pinkberry was. bathroom break lord and taylor. enter Pandora. we check out some charms and get kate sized . we speak to who we at first thought was a nice and normal salesperson. back story. my stupid sister loves the Minnesota Vikings football team who btw are 2 and 6. so we ask her to show us a ton of charms until kate says "oh can i see the viking, that’s my favorite i want that one for Christmas" salesperson [silence...................] [but why?, why would you like the viking?] like it was bad luck or something. i mean really lady what kinda question was that? kate "well i like the Minnesota vikings football team" salesperson [oh] nicole*rolls eyes in disgust* saleslady then forces us both to take pandora catalogs. which i also make kate carry in her purse (Go Pats!) off to crate and barrel. where i pick up some wine glasses for a xmas present. when we get to the checkout counter the saleslady asks "can i just throw a handle on your box instead of give you a bag?" mind you, there are 6 fat heavy wine glasses in said box, and since were at the pru, were obviously not parked outside and have a long trek back home so a bag would be handy. Nicole “actually, may i please have a bag? to which saleslady makes a clicking noise with her tongue rolls her eyes and throws them in a bag. kate was so pissed she was ranting about the stupid b***h at the "Cracker barrel" for the rest of the day. i said kate, its crate and barrel.... to which i get a whatever! fast forward, Davis square train you know the picture of the bag with the rolls of paper sticking out because the paper people didn’t have a decent bag. yeah well thats about to come into play .when were leaving the train station and i walk by an up and down escalator and BOOM this is when the bag decides it can no longer handle the paper rolls. i bend over and realize im not going to reach it in time to which i yell to the little sister to go after paper rolls being carried down the down escalator of course there’s 1000 people watching much their joy since nothing exciting has happened all day. kate grabs rolls just in time and we flee with red faces. we finally make it home and prepare a great meal with swiss chard, chicken, Brussels sprouts, and red mashed potatoes. it was delicious and we washed it down with some ice cold beers. we recanted our day and our full bellies hurt from laughing so much!

Hi I am about 19 days out and am on puréed foods. I just feel like I should feel better than I do. I still get nausea but I have IBS and that is one of the symptoms I use to get. I have tried canned chicken with low fat mayo- didn't feel good after. I have tried refried beans, green salsa-no good, cottage cheese-real bad, added chicken breast to refried beans and puréed no good. Getting frustrated!! Still drink protein shake every morning cause I know I need protein! Any suggestions? I am going to call NUT on Mon.

This was sent to me in a private message by one of our members who wanted to stay anonymous but thought the information might be useful to other BariatricPal members: "Alex, I realized my drinking was getting excessive. Particularly when I woke up with my hands shaking. It was quickly going from drinking after working out, to wanting to take nips to quiet the nerves during the day. There are two schools of thought out there when it comes to alcohol - the AA/total abstention model and Harm Reduction model. In my typical fashion, I started researching it and realized that sudden withdrawal could be very dangerous. Just stopping drinking if you have been doing for an extended period of time can create bad withdrawal symptoms, the worst being known as Delirium Tremors (DT's), but it also can spike your blood pressure, elevate heart rate, night sweats. If I went into a medically supervised system, my options all involved sudden withdrawal with benzos and other anti-anxiety drugs. And at the same time you risk loss of professional licences, reputation, gun rights etc. Not a great solution to a problem. And it is a problem. Not only is it stalling my weight loss, but if I was in a accident, the hospital is not going to bring you a bourbon as medicine, instead you get to go through DT's. So I didn't want to risk being dependent on alcohol, the dangers are too great. Then I found these articles: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0022994 https://hamsnetwork.wordpress.com/2010/10/09/more-on-tapering-off-alcohol/ One of the benefits of controlled tapering of alcohol is avoiding a syndrome called "kindling." Some people who have repeatedly gone through cold turkey withdrawal without tapering off become more and more likely to have bad withdrawals from even small amounts of alcohol. This phenomenon is referred to as "kindling". People who have undergone kindling can suffer withdrawal seizures from drinking as little as a six pack of beer. Some decades ago some detox facilities forced clients to undergo cold turkey withdrawal to "teach them a lesson". Not only did this fail to stop people from drinking, it resulted in many people suffering from kindling. I used this system over three days and the result was a controlled landing. I've now been able to go through the last week alcohol-free without really bad withdrawals. Can't say it wasn't without discomfort. It did goof with my sleep and I have been agitated and muscles are a little sore, but it was bearable. Used a portable breathalyzer to monitor my BAC and home blood pressure monitor to make sure nothing spiked. My goal is to stay alcohol-free for the next month and re-evaluate. I need to re-learn my relationship with drinking, and make sure I bring my BAC down to 0 between drinks so I don't get back to that level again and make sure it is not an everyday activity. But that is my goal, not a recommendation."

They did not perform a leak test. They did send me home with a drain which I had for a week, Just had that removed Thursday, thank God. I can now wear normal clothes. I feel like I have been wearina a moo-moo for a week. There was a follow up after 1 week. Ny next appt is 1 month out, then 3 month, 6 month, 1 year anniversary then annually. Smart move going right for the VSG. I wish I had done the same. My wife has a friend getting a band in the next week or so. I would LOVE to tell her not to do it but she has her mind made up and I have to respect that. Keep in touch and let us know how you do. I am 10 days out, down 12 since surgery, back to work and feeling great.

I was banded Nov 19, it has been 7 days and I am in pain alot. I keep liquids down for about 5 hours than it comes back up. Any ideas?

My surgeon never questioned me about which surgery to have. He is thrilled with my 60% BMI gone in one year. Do what you feel is right for you not what the doctor wants you to have, Your body, not his/hers. A band can be removed, sleeve-stomach gone forever and by-pass, almost everyone I know has regained after 10 years and blame it on the surgery not their over eating. Also, you need to be comfortable with the doctor you choose.

I'm Southern California Kaiser and I had to do a 12 week class, plus all of the testing and had to lose 10% of my body weight before surgery. My process was much longer than most - start to finish I waited 17 months.

Update : Had surgery on 9/24/09 lost 25 lbs went for my first fill to find out port is tilted had a revision done on 1/14/10. On date of surgery was 230 lbs now weighing 222 lbs. Feeling ok but kind of scared again I do not want to go through another revision. Does anyone have any suggestions of light exercises that I can do or should I wait until after my visit on 1/22/10?

Wow! Thanks for the update. And a job well done to you! I did my band/plication in July of 2011, and have lost 110 lbs. since then. I had my gallbladder removed at the same time and had my severe hiatal hernia fixed as well--not fun, but looking back, I have no regrets whatsoever... I started at 253 and I'm down to 143 now which is about 10 lbs. below my goal. Again, great job & thanks for the update!

I'd go see a new doctor who has fluroscopy and barium and get my fills from someone who knows what they are doing.. That's nuts that you are a year into this without decent restriction. I go to mexico for my fills but i live in california. I had 2 fills and I"m 8cc in a 10 cc band. I'm tight but not excessively.. warm tea opens the band most times if i really feel too tight. but the bottom line is i was banded feb 9 this year.. have lost 40 pounds.. and don't see any reason not to get to goal by september 5th ( my birthday)..

Some of the individuals on this website did have that condition and it caused them problems. It is important to get this condition treated before surgery. According to the internet: Therapy for H. pylori infection consists of 10 days to 2 weeks of one or two effective antibiotics, such as amoxicillin, tetracycline (not to be used for children <12 yrs.), metronidazole, or clarithromycin, plus either ranitidine bismuth citrate, bismuth subsalicylate, or a proton pump inhibitor. Another article says: Nausea and vomiting are the most common complaints after bariatric surgery, and they are typically associated with inappropriate diet and noncompliance with a gastroplasty diet (ie, eat undisturbed, chew meticulously, never drink with meals, and wait 2 hours before drinking after solid food is consumed). If these symptoms are associated with epigastric pain, significant dehydration, or not explained by dietary indiscretions, an alternative diagnosis must be explored. One of the most common complications causing nausea and vomiting in gastric bypass patients is anastomotic ulcers, with and without stomal stenosis. Ulceration or stenosis at the gastrojejunostomy of the gastric bypass has a reported incidence of 3% to 20%. Although no unifying explanation for the etiology of anastomotic ulcers exists, most experts agree that the pathogenesis is likely multifactorial. These ulcers are thought to be due to a combination of preserved acid secretion in the pouch, tension from the Roux limb, ischemia from the operation, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use, and perhaps Helicobacter pylori infection. Evidence suggests that little acid is secreted in the gastric bypass pouch; however, staple line dehiscence may lead to excessive acid bathing of the anastomosis. Treatment for both marginal ulcers and stomal ulcers should include avoidance of NSAIDs, antisecretory therapy with proton-pump inhibitors, and/or sucralfate. In addition, H pylori infection should be identified and treated, if present.

This is all new to me. I am hoping by keeping this journal I will be able to stay on track. I have been banded 10 days now. Basiclly, I feel good. Usally I'm alway on the go but now I get tired very easily - have been needing naps. Incisions are 99% healed and the port area is the only place that's tender. I still get shoulder pains though. I'm able to eat now and that scares me. I am only 10 days and can eat almost normally just less of it. Does this mean soon I will eat more and more and MORE....... Today, I was at a meeting where I ate lasagna, bread and brownie. :think I feel guilty and horribe!