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I am very new to this whole thing. I am 5'4 and 310 lbs with Co-Morbidities of Diabetes, Dysphagia, and GERD. I decided that I wanted to get WLS so I went on my own in December to a seminar. After leaving, I decided I wanted to get the Sleeve. My new insurance policy (BCBS of IA) didn't kick in until Jan 1st, so on 1/12 I went to my first consult appt with the surgeon. At this appointment, he said he would recommend the Gastric Bypass as my GERD could worsen with the sleeve. He also said it would be a great help with my diabetes and said it would be more successful. He did a great job explaining the difference between the two surgeries and I decided to go with his recommendation. I talked to a friend of mine today that had the sleeve and told him what I decided. He told me the sleeve was better. Easier to get nutrients, said pills don't absorb like they should so all meds I take should be in liquid form. Said important to get nutrients or your body could shut down or eye sight could go. I don't know if what all he said is true, but it has really made me nervous to get this surgery and left me with a lot of questions. 1- does anyone have problems taking pills after surgery or does everything have to be in liquid for like my friend mentioned. 2- is it hard to get your Vitamins and nutrients your body needs 3-What type of side of effects am I looking at. 4-anything in general I should know about this surgery. 5- anything I need to know about pre-op diet. My dr form just says fruit, veggies, skinless chicken breast, fish, and liquids. I am hoping to do as much research as I can on this. There isn't much my insurance requires. 2 years of weight records (which I have), weight loss attempts (which I have done), psych eval and nutritionist eval (both will be done on 1/26) blood tests and EKG (doing tomorrow) and upper GI (which I still need to schedule). So I imagine it won't be long after that to be approved (BCBS says they have to approve in 15 days). I am just hoping to get more information and ease my nerves before I have this surgery. Any information anyone can give me would be great. Thanks

I will take a crack at some of these: 1. Yes - some do frequently, particularly if they overeat. Personally, I haven't in the past six years since surgery. 2. Yes. Ingested air or gas from digestion has to get out someway - there are two routes. 3. Post op tolerances vary widely with some not able to eat some foods for varying lengths of time, and some have no issues at all with anything. 4. Depends on your surgeon's program. Mine was soft foods and liquids from the get-go. 5. Depends on surgeon's program and individual needs and inclinations. Most are protein centric as our bodies need certain minimal amounts and can get by with little else. Some follow one of the many popular fad diets while others concentrate on learning to eat sustainably for long term maintenance and weight control. 6. No idea, but it shouldn't hurt. 7. No experience. 8. No, more like T-giving dinner after seconds, thirds and fourths, only with a small fraction of the amount. Some may experience what they call foamies or slimies when things come back up but I have never experienced this. 9: Water goes right thru; capacity of the stomach is irrelevant. Eatiing/drinking limitations are variable but usually settle out at no drinking for 30 min after a meal. Before a meal doesn't matter as the fluid flows right thru the empty stomach, though a limitation of 15-30 minutes is often used initially to account for post surgical stomach inflammation that may impede fluid flow. 10. As before, with a sip of water. For a while it was one pill at a time with a sip rather than a handful of pills with a gulp, but that settles out over time. Some RNY oriented practices like to use chewies or gummies to avoid pills getting stuck in the stoma, which is irrelevant for sleeve patients who don't have a stoma. Some large pills may work better split or crushed for a time. 11. See Above - fluids flow right thru the empty stomach. Drinking immediately after eating may result in things coming back up. 12. With the sleeve, nutrition is largely up to the patient as there is no significant malabsorption effect. Early on, much of our nutrition other than protein comes from supplements but that decreases as our diets improve over time. 13. For a time, yes, and some do more than one. Some choose to continue using them for the long term out of convenience. 14. you aren't going to do much to damage your stomach by exercising too much/early, but you can induce incisional hernias. 15. Choose better parents and don't get fat in the first place. Seriously, it's a matter of genetics, age, and how much fat is stored where.

See I'm a grazer with healthy foods. I get chips and dip like once every 6 months. I never eat fast food I don't eat fried food. I graze on cherry tomatoes, carrots, celery, fruit, pickles, 100 calorie cookies. I only eat fat free or super low fat ice cream but rarely. I loveeee to cook and bake but dont really eat what I bake. But still I can't lose weight.

I was wondering if you lost weight during that 6 months if the insurance would approve you. Seems like they might think if you can do it during that 6 mos, why would you need the surgery.

I completely agree!! I'm freaking out big time. I'm able to get everything down really well... And I was bad on Saturday night. I had a sour cream and chicken enchilada and like 10 chips and salsa. I promised myself I wouldn't do that, but I did. Sure enough, I gained a pound the next day. I worked hard yesterday to lose it and I did this morning, but with all my up and down, I'm still stuck on the same exact number~!! During the week I keep on a strict plan and I follow it very well. I just need to get back into that... I have zero restriction right now... :mad2: I can't wait till the 25th when I get my first fill, even though it will be so little I doubt I will feel anything.

the scale number actually depend on the floor. we always assume that floor is flat but it is not true. try to move the scale and weight again. I found 3 places in my bathroom where scale shows different numbers. I just choose one which sound more true and always put it there to get weight.

My experience has also been 1 or 2 pounds a week since restriction. I am happy with that. I still find myself wanting to have a bite of this and a bite of that and the band doesn't stop every habit. So be prepared for that and have some strategies to combat Snacks. I have a dumb question. How do you get the weight loss ticker to show on this site? I set one up on the ticker factory, but couldn't get it over onto my page. Mary

If it weren't for my lapband, I'd be actively gaining the weight I just lost. I could lose the weight, just couldn't keep it off for any length of time. My band will help me keep off what I worked so hard to lose.

At my last surgeon's appointment two months out from surgery, I asked how much weight they might expect me to lose when I return for my six month post-op appointment at the end of November. The nurse practitioner said she thought I could lose 60 more pounds (over the next four months). At the time that seemed like a lot, and now that I'm well into the timeline and losing an average of 10 pounds/month, it definitely seems unrealistic. I am pretty happy with my weight loss so far; I was 250 the day of surgery, and 4.5 months out, I'm at 185. Realizing that everyone is different, I am curious if 10 pounds/month seems like a reasonable amount to be losing at this point? Thanks so much for your input.

Your weight loss is going to be faster right after you are banded. I had my first fill after several years May 24th and went to the doc today. They did not give me a fill and I am at 7cc in my band. I dropped 12 lbs and they were very happy with that number, they are happy with a lb a week. So keep that in mind and do not get disappointed if you do not hit that same weight loss that you had initially. The higher weight you are then you will initially lose faster, then it usually will slow down. Ideal is 1-2 lbs a week, but you will see a difference in clothing/inches etc... Congrats on the 22lbs that is awesome!!

I like Christin's response. My hubby actually told me that I'd lose weight if I'd "just eat less". I told him that he doesn't have a say. My other friends and family have been very supportive, but I do feel somewhat like I'm under a microscope. The ladies in my family are all "voluptuous". My Granny used to call us her "Mack Truck Girls", cause we're all big and loud. So, my cousins and aunts are watching my results to see if they want to do WLS too. A couple of people have told me the horror stories, and I've seen one with my own eyes. My best friend's sister in law had WLS several years ago and, since she's non compliant with diet and exercise, ends up in the hospital about every 3 months with malnutrition and dehyrdration. Of course, we've all seen the horror stories of people who didn't have WLS and died from complications of obesity. You just never hear of people telling those stories to us when we're gaining our weight. If I do get a negative response, I just reply with something along the lines of "It was surgery or die for me". That shuts most of them up, and those who persist are definitely not the people I want to depend on for support. They are NOT on my cheerleading squad like the people I find here always are!!

I have hypothyroidism and despite lots of thyroid meds, I've had a really hard time losing weight for years. Surgery was 3/25, and 25 lb loss so far (includes pre-op loss of 10 lbs). Several nurses have told me that I will lose slower than people with normal thyroids, even if my thyroid levels read normal from medication. While this makes no sense to me (my TSH numbers are well below the normal range, which you would see in hyperthyroidsm...shouldn't weight just melt off??), it seems to be true because I feel like I'm still scratching and clawing for every pound. This is more and faster progress than I've had before, though, and I'm hopeful I'll be able to get to a normal weight one of these days. My endocrinologist said he would readjust meds as needed, but I hope we don't have that conversation for a long time. In my mind, any reduction of thyroid medication would just mean even slower weight loss. As far as the surgery, I was able to resume the thyroid medication within a day. Besides slower weight loss (for me, may not be everyone), I don't think there has been any difference in the process. I already had my thyroid issue diagnosed and treated before surgery, though...not sure if it would make a difference pre-op if they were just now addressing it.

Starting week 7 post op. I can start with normal foods. Yay! But I still have trouble getting more than 3oz in. Boo! I weigh myself on Sundays and the weight loss is frustraaaatingly slow. There was one week where I lost 2 lbs. But all the others I lose less than a lb per week. Is this normal? How can this be when I'm basically starving (on average 500 cals a day)? I'm worried that if I ever get to the 1000-1200 cals per day I'll stop losing weight or start gaining again! And I still have like 50lbs to go to reach my goal. I'm afraid I'll never get there.

I am 4 weeks out and still lethargic. Like you I have periods of energy but this quickly passes. I am not getting all the protien in and maybe that is why. I am also still sore on the left side. I had a hand assist which required an extra 2 and a 1/2 inch incision up from the belly button. The pain is on the left side where one of the incisions will not close and it leaks all day. I hope you get to feeling stronger. I suppose if you losing alot of weight some low energy is normal.

Hi. Just a quick intro. I'm 33 and weigh 250. I'm 5'6". I'm desperate to lose weight. I'm a mother of 4 and my mother in law lives with us. It's been a struggle to lose weight this time around. I'm so busy I can't find time to shower most days, not to mention excercise. Also with 6 other people in the house it's not feasible to make my meals separate from everyone else's. It just doesn't work. I feel so bad about myself. Nothing fits me in my closet. I have zero energy. I can't breathe. My back and feet hurt all the time. I'm just now considering (what I call) drastic measures. I'm really not sure where to start after checking with my insurance company. I never wanted to have to do this. I feel like I'm giving up in a way or that I'm just being lazy even thinking of going this route. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using the BariatricPal App

My surgery originally scheduled for Sept. 10th has been delayed by the ladies in the doctor's office because of my food journal. Got the call first thing this morning telling me that they didn't think I was ready for the commitment that lapband surgery takes. I am a self-pay patient. I've met with the kind folks at the drs office for a total of 45 mins. tops during my 3 visits there. Yes, I did the info-seminar and was handed mounds of stuff to read that just sat in my cute little bag they gave me. My identical twin (who lives with me) went through the exact same surgery last year. I have her as my support. I know what it takes, I know what I need to do and am willing to do it. The one thing to my detriment was I gained 2 lbs (had my last supper so to speak before my 2 week liquid diet). I also was a little too honest on my food diary. One the one hand it's my fault and I am 100% committed to this (always was really-just now I'm really ticked off and want to prove them wrong). On the other hand, I feel let down by the team because I don't feel I had enough counseling and meetings with the nutritionist (never even met her - yet she's the one who called me today). Well - I had my pity party - it's ok...I will still have the surgery in September. I'm just a little hurt and feel a little run over but I will tell them exactly how I feel about this whole situation...AFTER surgery :)3

Just tell the doctor that if you had another fill, you would be throwing up constantly. You don't have to get a fill. Just call and tell them you don't need one. It's as simple as that. You may loosen up after you lose some more weight and the fat pad around your stomach melts away. That's when you need a fill. When you find you can eat anything you want, and way more than you should, then get another one!

Misty - it is your body and your decision. If you want to stay where you are for awhile tell your surgeon you have decided not to fill until you feel like you need it. As long as you are still losing weight all is good. Surgeons are human and yours may want extraordinary results to feed his/her ego, but if you are losing 2 pounds a week you are doing great, are losing weight in a healthy manner and should stick to your guns. I respect my surgeon but ultimately all decisions about my health and my body are mine. Doen't be afraid to stand up for yourself - you should never be pressed into something that makes you uncomfortable.

Thank you! Yup that's me not only am I fighting the weight battle.. This has also been a battle.. I know worth it but every step of the way has been something... Good luck everyone

Who are the rapid Resolution Specialists with Aetna? My weight loss was due to an abdominal surgery - they took out 11 inches of large intestine. Any info is great! Thanks YMJ!!

You can fight it and win, easily - continue your appointments, use ankle weights if need be. This is why my dr told me to be sure not to lose more than 10lbs during the approval process. Call and talk to a rapid resolution specialist - they're there to help you fight your appeal and push it through.

Well, my first thought is that you are losing about a pound a week and that is a healthy amount to lose. Otherwise, are you holding yourself accountable for everything you are eating and drinking? Food logs and journals are helpful for keeping tabs on problems. Also, sometimes I dont lose weight if I am getting too few calories.

If I had one regret it would be that I did not get this done sooner. I'm 47 and have been over weight since I was 25, I went through a major depression. All I can tell you is that I had all kinds of second thoughts and fears before having the surgery. I was scared it would not work for me or I would fail at it. But I was so ready I had to go through with it. I was banded the 28th of May and have lost 17 pounds since and I can say I'm glad I got it done. Even if something happens and it does not work I at least tried. But I do believe you need to want it like Carolina girl would say. It's all in the "want power". Good luck ~~~Stephanie

When I was following Atkins 2 years ago (yes lost weight but gained it back, sigh) anyway, for a snack I would microwave turkey pepperoni until it got crispy, talk about fast and it was yummy. Lower in fat and calories compaired to regular pepperoni.

Getting the proper amount of Protein may be your problem - protein is one of the most essential items in losing weight and not developing muscle wasting or protein deficiencies. But the amount of weight will vary from person to person and the percentage of weight loss is a better indicator of how you are progressing. Hang in ther you are doing great. Just really work on getting that protein intake to at least 60-80 grams a day.