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Yuck. I was on Topamax for a good part of a year and it definitely had heavy duty side effects as I was titrating up. I also didn't like the idea of taking a medication every single day. I feel like I've tried literally everything for migraines. I know how crazy this sounds (to all those who suffer from regular migraines) but I suffered from migraines for over 10 years - it got so bad that I was taking a prescription drug (relpax) every single day. Then I read this book that changed my life - "Heal Your Headache" by David Buchholz. It advocated changing your diet and stopping taking medications that would have a rebound effect (medications like Excedrin and my Relpax). I follow the diet restrictions pretty closely and only take my Relpax every once in awhile. Just following the book's advice worked wonders for me. I really feel like I have control over my headaches. I guess if your headaches are infrequent and the Excedrin works for you and you're happy with it, stick with it. But if they ever increase or you want to try to get off meds altogether, I totally recommend that book. Best of luck.

Hi there! I was wondering if you are Jody Barfield from Moultrie? I'm from norman park and was just banded on 01-17 by dr. bagnato in albany! Welcome aboard and congrats on starting the journey to a healthier you! Who are you thinking of to do your band?

Hi Guys....My name is Melisa and ive been a banster for 3 years now! Ive lost 70 lbs and have no regrets about getting the band! Ive gone from a size 20 to a 14 so far! My band was too tight a year ago and i had 1/4 cc taken out. i gained some weight from that so i just had some put back in. im hoping to get down to 150 or size 10! whichever comes first! I recently started walking so im hoping that will help too. My band is pretty tight again so i can mainly only eat soups comfortably. No big bulky foods! And that is good for me! Keeps me away from burgers and pizza as well as other bulky fattening foods!!! I will try to post some before and after pics soon. If anyone has any questions feel free to ask. Good luck banster friends! <3

I am 10 weeks post sleeve surgery. I love the support meetings I attend. I am actually going to one this evening. There are people in the group who report on the complications they may have had but for the most part the meetings are really supportive.

Bring Dollars and small bills and HIDE IT WELL and YES things are EXPENSIVE> I had to have one of my nurses get me a box of tampons and I gave her a $5 and I got a box of 10 tampons.

Hi Ruthi, I am so sorry you had to go through so much with your Lap band. Good thing you got sleeved! So your like 10 weeks out from your sleeve surgery right? What are you eating now, and how was your first month after surgery with food? Kelly65 (California Sleeve Sister)

Just had surgery on 1/7/15. Everything is fine except I've been experiencing some wicked muscle cramping in my right upper obliques. It started the day after surgery. I assume it was dehydration but I'm now wondering if my muscles got pulled from being inflated during surgery. Anyone else with this possible complication? I can't sit for over an hour and walking for more than 10 minutes aggravates it as well. Only thing that settles it is lying flat on my back on my memory foam mattress.

Eight months post op, 35 lbs lost since 9/4/12 and I have gained 10 back in the last three weeks:-( I am so bummed, I feel so weak to my temptations! I am getting married on the 18th if this month and I am praying I fit into my wedding gown:-( why can't I just make the right choices?????? I'm at 8cc in my 11 cc realize band and the doc doesn't really want to fill me more. I'll take any suggestions or encouragement ! I know what to do, I just can't stick to it:-(

Try some refried beans for protein, you might tolerate it better than meats for the moment. I am 10 weeks and I get that sharp pain every now and then when I eat to fast.

Hello! I am a 40 yr old female from Cape Cod Mass. I have been overweight forever, but in the past few years I reached my highest peak @ 255lbs. In January of this year I looked into bariatric weight loss thru BI in Boston. They have a comprehensive and long program, which I completed in about 3-4 months and was told I would be a good candiate for surgery. I waited a few more months, as I was trying to decide what was best for me. Once I decided to go forward, I had to pick GBP or Lap Band. Since I was not a diebetic and on medications for health problems and the gbp seemed so severe, I opted for Lap Band surgery. My date was set for Monday 8/30/10. The week prior I did a partial liquid diet using mostly the unjury protein drinks. They taste good and filled me up. It was easier than I thought and I lost 10 lbs prior to surgery, just as my doctor wanted. I was super exicted and nervous but my surgeon is renowned in thie field and I was confident. Unfortunatley for me things did not go as planned. As I woke up in recovery, a nurse who did not seem to know about bariatrics, handed me 2 containers of liquid percocet and some water, telling me to drink it all down. I did as I was told, only to be hit with such pain in my chest, I thought I was dying. I could not breathe, I vomited, I was sweating and very upset. Nothing s/b given orally so soon after surgery and I will never know if that caused what happened next or not, but it was a long road for me. As a mom with a 6 yr old who was due to start first grade, I was happy to have my surgery scheduled before her school started, knowing I would be in the hospital for just one night. Well, for me it turned into a long 6 days! On day 3 my Dr stuck a needle in the band and took out all the water (15 cc) trying to loosen things up. 4 days after surgery I still could not keep 15 cc of water down and he decided to go back in and pop 2 stiches to loosen me up. This is called a revision and he said he had only see this happen in 2 patients prior to me...and he has done this since the surgery came about. I had to go backunder general anthesia and into the OR again. By the next day I was drinking some water and by Sunday afternoon I was finally released. I am 2 weeks out from my 2nd surgery and down a total of 30 lbs. I had my 2 week follow up with my doc and he says I am doing better than most. I am back to walking 3 miles a day (which I had started the month prior to surgery). My main issues now are with constipation and all that fun stuff.. Some days I don't want to get out of bed. I am cranky as I miss food. I loved to eat and it is harder than I expected to go without. On Saturday I tried on some jeans than are a size 20 (I was in 24/26) and they were a bit loose. This was exciting but only temporarily lifted my spirits. I still feel a bit off...not sure why exactly but trying to move ahead and getting stronger. I am on stage 4 diet...some solids, and so far, so good. This is my first time on a blog, and I am anxious to read other people's stories as well as chronicle my own. Thanks for reading:))

I was having trouble with water too, I'm 4-weeks post op. My hubby downloaded an app on my phone called Waterlogged, $4 for the full version. I thought he was nuts, but now my phone makes bubbling noises every 10 minutes reminding me to sip!! It's helping me change my habits.

The company I went through charged 5200. I am 10 days post op and could have gone to work last week but I took two weeks off. I have found everyone is different through.

My surgeon said no topical NSAIDs for my bad knee so will have to try menthol or other homeopathic options, or maybe some cold gel...but no NSAIDs for 10 days preop.

My family are all in Barnstaple now, but my sister used to live in Little Torrington years ago I'm originally from London. No, the sleeve was a disaster for me from the start. I was one of those rare creatures who get a leak... Had to stay in hospital for 3 months and had multiple surgeries to fix it. Then because of the surgeries my sleeve stretched out. I put on 25 pounds, which I've now lost (plus another 10) and bob's yer uncle, all is well. How was it having surgery in the UK? Was it on the NHS?

Excited to hear how well your doing my Journey has just started my surgery is in 10 days and I also have 150-175lbs to loose any advice for me?

Since all of our sleevers are coming out of the woodwork I figured it's time to have an official roster! Just reply here with your date (no need to quote) to be added! Can't wait to see all of our September sleeves in place. 1 - Wishes, Wannagethealthy, CoffeeBean, HollyB. 2 - gemintherough, gardendiva3, wannasleeve, babygirl63 5 - 6 - Fendo, MsDad, newday2day, Rebel 7 - Christy, VDiaz3072, Rosebud_cp 8 - tjharmon, NukeChik, LaTasha, AnneG 9 - ally 10- Buckeye Girl (Happy Anniversary!) 12 - NewMe86, Shalon, DallasMomofTwins, Summertymer, lovey_vsg_nyc 13 - kkc91311, thefighter2 14 - ITSMEMRSJ, nilesmama08, PhatGurl80, mark.j.smith 15 - britiajon, momokev 16 - Amy Frost 17 - AnnaChelle 19 - MochaGirl, Shellybellyrelly, a change is comin, emily_0192010, PeteO 20 - lorip, zoelifechick, NikiJ, panda 21 - Nicole85 22 - shoppingbeemom, k__, Aussiegirl, Mabalb 23 - N2B8R, MsC 26 - geminhi 27 - zoelifechick, BrandNew2011, ravenjeh 28 - TinaCasa, Ducker, MonicaLynn 29 - 30 - September sleevers with no official date: cdavis, Soon2BMiniMommy, maidenari, SleeveMe2011, azsenior

I’m on day 10 post op. I had the sleeve too and I got the hunger feeling started yesterday but I noticed I didn’t have enough protein intake. I guess I have a mindset of 40-48g of protein but my dietitian advised me today that I can take more proteins. I was counting the bone broth as my protein intake which made me hungry a bit although I’m using the Paleo/Keto friendly broth with 10g of protein. I changed it today and I’m not hungry. Can’t wait for the soft/puréed stage next week. I started watching videos on YouTube and it’s interesting and I found them helpful for our next stage.

I am having my RNY on 6/19 at Loyola. I am having surgery with Dr. El Djouzi.

My insurance required a Psych evaluation too. they told me to prepare for at least 4 hours in their office. Which wasn't incorrect. I was required to take about 8 different test. the main theme drugs. They asked it every way possible to see if you have ever abused drugs. I actually met with the Dr. for only 10 minutes. Just relax and you will do fine...

Thanks to all of you that chimed in. I am so looking forward to getting started. I go for all my preop stuff on the 21st and the date for surgery is tenatively set for 10/3. My Surgeon is Dr.Terry Pinson at the North Mississippi medical center Bariatric Center. It is great comfort to me to see so many people from so many different states that have had such amazing stories of success. Can't wait to be one:001_smile:

I have had my band since 2010. I have started experiencing severe back pain when I eat. I thought the pain was related to gallbladder. I went to the doctor and he confirmed I needed gallbladder removed. He said the pain I described was gallbladder related. Nope! Back pain is still very much present. Anyone else ever experience this 10/10 pain?

I weighed in surgery day at 206 i think and I left weighing 219. I thought "what the heck did I do?" But thanks to the knowledgeable people here I realized that was water weight and GAS omg the GAS! I lost it within 10 days or so though. Hang in there!!

Well don't worry. I had surgery 4-2-14 and had sex yesterday 4-6-14. It wasn't amazing acrobatic sex but still felt good. We were careful and made sure he didn't put any weight in me. It didn't hurt at all except just a little (scale of 1-10 would've been a 2) when I got there just from tightening my stomach muscles. But the after felt so good I didn't mind the little twinge of pain. In fact I felt better the rest of the day than I had since I left the hospital.

My insurance doesn't require any weight loss during the 3 month monitored diet period, but the dietitian told me that I should lose at least 10. I'm down 2 pounds since my Welcome Group, and yesterday was my medical, dietitian and physical therapy required appointments. So the 90 days started yesterday, and will finish November 30th (approx). I was reassured that I should have no problem getting scheduled before the end of the calendar / insurance year on December 31st.