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I've had the info seminar and I'm meeting with the surgeon next Wednesday. Not sure what procedure I'll have, but leaning toward the sleeve. I have a friend who got the lap band 10 years ago and she has put it all back on. Another friend got the sleeve 2 years ago and is really struggling. She's gained back 35 and in crisis. My main worry is not the surgery, but regaining weight down the road, like happened with all my other big weight losses. Any advice from the long-term folks? This is the one aspect that terrifies me. Thanks!

Right?! There is no way I can eat that much and lose weight.

i know for a fact that i would put heaps of weight on with this ....

I have banded since November and have only lost abt 5 lbs. I'm totally disgusted! I have a realize band and have had 3 fills with 2cc's at each fill. Will be getting another fill next month. I am now having sme restrictions. Can't tolerate bread and chicken and um vomiting and sliming a lot almost every meal. Seem to be consuming a lot of fruit juice n tea. Any advice?

Hi I had Dr. Vohra do my surgery last April. The office staff is great with the paperwork & getting things done with your insurance. Trust me they will call back as soon as they see your insurance covers weight loss surgery. I also had Dr. Vohra fix an umbilical hernia at the same time he did my LapBand. He is a great doctor. Very Quiet. Unfortunately I have had a hard time losing with the Band. I am Insulin Resistant & they think that is why. If you have any questions feel free to email me at jenlevy33@aol.com Jen

The three most important elements after RNY gastric bypass surgery are to meet your daily protein, fluid and vitamin requirements. Food is secondary because your body is converting your stored fat into the energy that drives your body. Thus you lose weight. Weight loss is achieved after surgery through meal volume control. You begin at 2 ounces (1/4 cup) per meal and gradually over the next year and a half increase the volume to 1 cup per meal. With this minuscule amount of food, it is next to impossible to meet your daily protein requirements by food alone, so therefore you need to rely on supplements such as protein shakes. Many people experience problems eating and drinking after surgery. Two of the medical conditions that can contribute to this problem is the development of strictures and ulcers. So if you find that your problem is extreme (such as constant vomiting) then I would recommend working this problem out with your surgery team. That is why they are there. The transition to hard foods (such as chicken and steak) can be rather rough. As a result I have relied on softer foods (such as high protein chili and soups). I have included a few recipes at the end of the following article. http://www.breadandbutterscience.com/Surgery.pdf

I am so frustrated. I blew our savings to have this surgery and now I don't think its working. I have lost 5 lbs and I am 10 days post op. I am getting in my Protein and most of my Water. I am still in the clear/full liquid phase. The only possible thing I can think happened is I eat a pudding because I was so sick and tired of drinking Protein shakes so I add my protein to my pudding and between that and the protein shakes I am at like 25-30 grams of carbs a day. Please tell me there is hope. I am so upset

I thought that it was only me that see only imperfections. My husband, family and friends see things a lot differently that I do. I never really took pictures due to my weight and even though I have lost weight, I still won't take pictures. I will have to find some before and after shots so that I can compare. Be encouraged in know that in time you will have the desired look that you are aiming for.

My port is tilted. Yes, the doctor did have problems getting me filled. After trying the first time unsuccessfully we went and did if under floro. After that we did them in his office but about 3 times he missed. By some sort of miracle I was still able to lose inches but not pounds and the port started to protrude more so he was able to locate successfully. So even though I am a year out I have just begun to start losing weight but in the mean time I have lost several inches and have dropped 3 clothes sizes. So dont despair.

i have no idea what to write... my weight IS dropping but i am eating all the wrong things .... i have no idea what to eat to keep my calories up when i work out. chicken wings, ice cream... **sigh** i need to stop. i am very pleased with my loss this week so far. i've dropped 4.75 pounds. i am not sure if it is the working out, the eating or the muscle milk.... i did buy 2 jugs of muscle milk. the peanut butter/chocolate is pretty good. i am going to try the banana cream today before i work out.

I became overweight at 10 or 11 y/o. Since high school I've tried losing weight & failed. I gave up back when I was 23 y/o & ended up in the icu for 5 days due to pneumonia & breathing problems. I lost 15 lbs during my visit, came home & continued to eat healthy with my family. But somehow I fell off the wagon a year later, oh and I never lost more weight. Until mid-August 2014 to now I have lost 45 lbs. I'm happy to have lost that much weight & not put it back on. I've been trying to eat less & slowly getting rid of my favorite soda, Dt Dr Pepper. Lol! That's my cryptonite. Some days I splurge & eat til I can't anymore. Which is part of why I am fighting for my life some days, at least I feel like that. I feel the Sleeve Gastrectomy will help to be a tool on my appetite & to help change my way of living. I am 35 y/o with a twin brother, obesity runs in our family. Being healthy is all I want for me right now. Health problems have started popping up now. Growing up I only had asthma & allergies/sinus problems. Now in these past few years, I have high blood pressure, migraines, herniated disc in my lower back, sleep apnea, now diabetes type 2, this year I found out I have liver problems all related to my weight. It's hard seeing my health get worse. I am hoping that this is the Last year of getting bad news on my health. I'm pushing myself to be healthier & it's working.

I was banded almost two years ago in Mexico. Travelled to Mexico about three times for my fills, I have been back to Atlanta for about a year and still haven't been able to find a doctor to do my fills. I am almost back to my pre banding weight. Somebody please help. Any suggestion will be very much appreciated. If you know any doctor in Georgia accepting overseas patients, please let me know ASAP.

Congratulations on your new healthy life. You will stay motivated by looking at the big picture, don't get stuck on the head game of it. When you are on liquids don't count calories, get on the scale. or worry about your weight. If you are hungry have more liquids. And if you get frustrated come here for the support. We will help you through it. Good luck!

:straight Just some thoughts that I have been having, I started to think about the lap-band 2 weeks ago, but my breaking point was Tues. 3/27/07 at the doctors office. I got on the scale and the nurse read my weight to me witch was 247 and I just wanted to cry. That is the heaviest that I have ever been. I was sitting in the doctor exam room thinking to myself that I should ask her about the lap-band, I was a bit nerves about asking but got the nerve to ask. What she said I was not happy about. With the many steps that have to follow before surgery, I wasn't so sure that I want to take all the steps. But as I get heavier the more I realize that I need help. So I have been on the Internet for 3 day studying the lap-band system, and how it works. I was thinking that the process would be a lot easier. As I read the information on the surgery, I find that you have to go thought many steps to get this done. I have found a date and time of a event that is close to me and I will attend this, in hopes to learn all that is needed to be learned. I know that it will not be easy to do this but with the help of my friends and family I think that this would be right for me. I will write in later to keep updated.

:straight Just some thoughts that I have been having, I started to think about the lap-band 2 weeks ago, but my breaking point was Tues. 3/27/07 at the doctors office. I got on the scale and the nurse read my weight to me witch was 247 and I just wanted to cry. That is the heaviest that I have ever been. I was sitting in the doctor exam room thinking to myself that I should ask her about the lap-band, I was a bit nerves about asking but got the nerve to ask. What she said I was not happy about. With the many steps that have to follow before surgery, I wasn't so sure that I want to take all the steps. But as I get heavier the more I realize that I need help. So I have been on the Internet for 3 day studying the lap-band system, and how it works. I was thinking that the process would be a lot easier. As I read the information on the surgery, I find that you have to go thought many steps to get this done. I have found a date and time of a event that is close to me and I will attend this, in hopes to learn all that is needed to be learned. I know that it will not be easy to do this but with the help of my friends and family I think that this would be right for me. I will write in later to keep updated.

So far, I have not really set any time/weight goals. I haven't had a clue how to even guess how much I would lose. My original goal in my head was to hit Onederland by July 4. I think based on factoring in a 3 week stall and losing about 5 pounds a week, I'm going to bump that up a little to around June 10th. So....there you have it....my first goal. I want to lose 35 pounds and hit Onederland by June 10th.

My husband and I split 6 weeks ago. I guess it's taken me this long to admit that it's over. I have been asked if it's to do with the weight loss, but to be honest, the problems were there when I was big, and they didn't go away when I lost the weight (which I was hoping would happen - it's funny how you think losing weight will miraculously 'fix' what's wrong with your life). So here I am, at 40, single again. I am lucky to have a good job, am in the position to be able to buy over the family home, will have primary custody of my 4yo son, and sole custody of my 16yo son (from my 1st marriage), so it's not all bleak. I know this is the right thing for us, but being single again is scary, and not having been single for any longer than 3 months since i was 16yo, I feel like a fish out of Water, all of s sudden, not quite sure of what my new life entails. Anyhow, I would love to chat with others in the same boat, who can help guide me through the 'maze' of this change in my life.

Thank you both for the encouraging words! The anticipation and excitement is too much to handle! After battling my weight my whole life (I'm 30 now), I'm ready for a new chapter. I will keep encouraging hubs and try not to get too sensitive to his comments. Men don't always know how to express their feelings! Looking forward to updates from you both after surgery!

Don't worry; it's the initial weight that will matter. You'll be fine.

Anyone here understand this. I am still not over the fact that mine is so high, even after losing so much weight it hasnt really dropped. Can anyone tell me if huge amounts of excess skin would make a difference and how does the scale tell how much it really is?? Blahhhh:rolleyes:

Body temperature is the result of your body generating and radiating heat. The body is adept at keeping its temperature within a narrow range even though ambient air conditions vary. A normal body temperature is 98.6°F. It is common during the period of rapid weight loss for bariatric patients to feel cold or chilled, even when their temperature reads normal. People who experience the massive weight loss associated with weight loss surgery experience feeling cold for two reasons: loss of insulation and less energy generation. Fat is a highly efficient insulator. Consider animals native to cold climates: for example sea lions and polar bears. They are loaded with insulation and thrive in cold climates. When gastric bypass patients follow the rules: eating Protein and exercising, the weight lost can only come from fat or stored energy. In effect you are losing your insulation. Less insulation increases the likelihood that you will feel cold. The second reason for feeling chilled is that the metabolic cell processes are not working as hard as when you were heavier; it takes fewer calories and less energy to maintain and move a smaller body. Think about using an electric mixer: if you are whipping egg whites for a meringue the mixer will do this task effortlessly. But use the same mixer to knead bread dough and it will become warm to the touch, it is working harder because it is moving more mass. The same thing happens with your body; the more mass it must move, the harder it works. As a result more heat is generated. Rule #2: Lots of Water The body has two well-tuned mechanisms for regulating body temperature: sweating and shivering. What overweight person hasn’t been embarrassed by a sticky bout of sweating at the most inappropriate time? Sweating is a mechanism for cooling your body when it becomes too hot inside. The body rids itself of excess heat by expanding the blood vessels in the skin so the heat may be carried to the surface. When this energy or heat in the form of sweat reaches the skin’s surface it evaporates and helps cool the body. Gastric bypass patients become more familiar with the second temperature regulator, shivering, as they lose weight. When you are too cold your blood vessels will contract reducing blood flow to the skin. The body responds by shivering which creates extra muscle activity to help generate more heat. If you allow your body to shiver it will begin to feel warmer. But this is also a good clue that it’s time to put on a sweater or turn up the heat. I think most weight loss patients will happily wear a sweater – a sweater is much easier to shed than that insulation we’ve worked so hard to lose! Most weight loss patients report that their body temperature regulates after their weight is stabilized, usually eighteen to twenty-four months after surgery. Keep in mind your body is rapidly losing weight and the rest of your body’s functions are caught off guard when this weight loss begins. The body’s thermostat needs time to catch up to the weight loss, and it will. Patients who incorporate exercise in their weight loss program experience less chilling than patients who do not exercise.

Congrats on your amazing weight loss. I'm glad you have no regrets. Can't wait to be walking down your yellow brick road. Marlene

just a update.. for all you peeps, after my unfill I gained 6 pounds, My doc was reaay proud, he expected 15 with a month unfilled The great news is I feel wonderful inside!! and my 2 weeks of liquids has let my tummy shrink back down and fix itself!! I went back for a fill and had 1.5 in. ( almost 1 cc less then before) and my restriction is perfect!! no heart burn, and i can sleep, and Im eating way less!! im looking forward to my weigh in this week, to see how those 6 pounds go away and get on the road to the last 30!! Moral of the story.. IF YOUR READING THIS BECAUSE YOU HAVE HEARTBURN, REFLX COUGHING UNABLE TO LIE DOWN.. go to your doc, its time to get unfilled and get set right back on track !! dont be foolish like me!! and suffer becasue you dont wait to fail, or have to start over!! Im better now then I have been in months! Thanks!!