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Hi, I am 17 months post op and 92 pound down. I just found out Im 6 weeks pregnant. I am so afraid because there are times I don't really eat then times I feel I can't stop eating. Im worried about my child being healthy as well as undoing all of the progress I've made thus far. Im so worried any advice would be much appreciated oh an did I mention Im OLD!!! IM 36 going on 37 makes me even more fearful but oh so excited.

Thanks for answering. I see my surgeon on the 20th and I'll be a little over 4 weeks (almost 5 weeks actually) at that point. I'm REALLY hoping he'll clear me because it'll be another few weeks after that before I'll be able to get up there to see him (he's a couple hours away from me). I'm itching to get back to weight training. I have instability in my ankles due to numerous injuries over the years so I can't do much walking and I feel so mushy right now. I want to get back to feeling in charge of my body instead of stuck doing nothing. I have started doing body weight squats since that doesn't affect my abs, and I'm considering getting hand weights and doing bicep curls and things like that, basically ANYTHING that doesn't touch my abs.

Hi everyone! I had yet another question for you all! When you cut out sugar and caffeine, for pre-op diet or post-op, did you have any withdrawals? If so, how long did they last? My pre-op diet begins the week before finals and continues through finals. I would really to get rid of sugar and caffeine now so I don't have to deal with any withdrawals during my studying. But if they weren't that bad, they may be manageable. Any info would be great!

Weighed myself this morning and I'm 195!!!! I'm so excited. Being stuck at 203 for two weeks and now this. Yay!!!

Hello Rossonmarcus! I was very nervous as well. Before my sleeve I had never had a surgery before so the anesthesia was freaking me out (I'm a nurse to, but for animals! hehehe...also in an ER). The day of my surgery I had to arrive at 6 am so they can put my IV in and prep me. I was moved to the pre-op area around 11 am and there they gave me an IV drug that they told me was going to relax me, but funny thing is that next thing I know I was waking up in recovery wondering what the hell had happened and asking for pain meds! hehehe....mind you, I have very low tolerance for pain. But like Tiffy mentioned above, the pain was most from gas. That same night after surgery, the nurses had me up and walking, because it's the best to relieve a lot of the gas discomfort. The pain in my abdomen, was more soreness. It felt like I had done 1 million sit-ups!! LOL...I was in the hospital for 2 days, on the first day I had a morphine drip and the second day they were giving me oral Vicaden (sp?) I know it's Hydrocodone with Tynenol (best sleep ever...hehe). After I was discharged I was on a full liquid diet for 2 weeks, then on to mushie stage for another 2 weeks. I could eat more normal food now, but at times some foods don't go down too well, so I go back to mushie, which I don't mind. Now I'm about 6 weeks post-op and I feel great, I went through a little stall with weight loss but started loosing again. Good Luck with your procedure and pre-op diet...you'll do great!

Hi there, and welcome. Immediately post-op, I was groggy. I felt the gas pain from the CO2 gas, but minimal discomfort from the actual surgery. I had the most discomfort/pain from the port incision from my band surgery. My abdomen was full of scar tissue and adhesions the surgeons had to take down all of it to remove my port. I was given IV pain drugs of morphine. It managed the pain well, but walking, moving, and stretching helped with the gas pain more than the drugs. I slept a lot the first night, but walked when I could. Day 2 post-op, I developed a leak, and a second surgery was needed to repair it. My recovery, and complications were not typical. Therefore, it's really difficult to compare my experience to other patients. I was in the hospital for 10 days. Then sent home with a TPN bag, and pic line for nutrient/calories. I had a home healthcare nurse come in every other day to change dressing, check vitals, and ensure I was recovering. I had nothing to eat or drink for 22 days. Literally, nothing crossed my lips for those days. Once I was off TPN, I started on Clear liquids for 17 days, then onto full liquids for a week, then mushies/soft solids as tolerated. It took me over 6 weeks to get to regular food and even then I relied on soft solids for most of my meals. I was hospitalized mid-July for a week due to abscesses in my abdominal and pelvic cavity. During that time, I was on heavy antibiotics, and pain meds. I was able to eat, and the nausea was kept at bay with IV drugs. I had quite a bit of nausea as well during this time after coming home probably from the heavy antibiotic regimen I was on. Phenegran, and Reglan helped, but fatigued me severely. My surgeon switched my nausea meds to Zofran, and it was a lifesaver during that time. I was finally fully released for full activity, and regular diet around 3 months post-op. My activity was very limited initially because of the pic line/TPN bag that I had to lug around plus the 2 drains that I had in my abdomen for those weeks really kept me sedentary. I didn't do more than walking for 3.5 months. I also had drains placed during the July hospitalization. Those were extremely painful. One of the abscesses was very low in pelvic cavity, and could not be accessed even with an interventionalist radiologist placing the drains. Luckily, it resolved with the antibiotic therapy. But, the pain from the abscesses was far worse than the surgery. As you can see, my experience is not typical. But, it's what I went through and just to give you an idea of what I consider to be worse case scenario. I know several of the members here will share their experience, and you'll get a wide range of experiences. Best wishes on your surgery. Even with all of my complications, and struggles, I would do it all over again. Life with the sleeve is truly fabulous, and I have zero regrets. Keep us posted on your progress ! ! !

Hello everyone. I got banded back in August and things have been going so so. I'm down 50 pounds and only 30 from my first goal, so I guess I should be feeling more encouraged, but I've been having a hard time with my band the last couple of months. I got a pouch dilation back in the beginning of January, right after my fill up to 5cc (I have a 10 cc band). My next appointment wasn't until February and I wasn't sure at the time whether this was a real problem, or if I was simply just starting to feel real restriction so I didn't go back for an unfill until a month later. During that month, I could drink liquids but sometimes I felt like they weren't going down as easily as they should, especially in the mornings. I was able to eat food too, in teensy lap band portions and I ended up losing 13 pounds in that one month. I've never gotten stuck so badly that I had to bring it up, PBd, or had reflux, but I did get painful hiccups sometimes that don't last very long. At my February appointment, they found the pouch and put me on a 2 week liquid diet to make it go down, but when that didn't work they had to take 2 CCs out bringing me back down to 3. I've been slowly getting refilled since then and haven't had any problems. Monday they got me back up to 5CCs, and I'm having the same problems again. I CAN drink liquids, but they aren't going down as smoothly as I think they should, I sometimes get painful 'hiccups' after eating a tiny bit of food, and I haven't felt hungry at all since two days ago despite barely eating anything. Maybe that's normal with good restriction? It's hard to describe, but I can kind of feel the band squeezing around the liquid while I drink. Should I be getting that feeling with a band that's only half full? My fill doctors are closed until Tuesday due to the holiday, they said that I could go to the ER but I don't think it's THAT series because I can still eat and drink. I'm going to do a liquid diet for the next few days, but what should I do after that? Ask for a sooner appointment to see if I have a pouch again? I really don't want to go through another unfill just when I'd started to feel good restriction again. I'm ashamed to admit that my self control isn't as good as I thought it was and I gained back another eight pounds after they took out those 2 ccs. I'm also feeling very discouraged that I can't seem to get past the 5cc mark without having this problem. I worry that if they do unfill me, I'll just have the same problem again in another three months. Is it okay to just leave the pouch alone, as long as I'm careful? Or will it lead to complications? I've love some advice, thanks!

No, this is not normal. As someone above mentioned, go to the "strictures, anyone" thread under complications and you will see what some of us have experienced. Be careful that you don't let this go on too long and become dehydrated or malnourished. My husband was back in the hospital 2 times for 6 days each during the first 3 weeks b/c he couldn't get any nutrition or fluids to stay down. He was in there so he could be re-hydrated and got nutrition through IV. The rest of the story is on the other thread. Good luck and like I said, don't wait too long.

Hi, I have been band for over 2 years now and for the last week or so I have this funny taste in my mouth it taste like metal or tin? Sometimes I have a funny feeling in the back of my mouth. Hard to explain. I have not had anything coming up like acid or anything no problem laying down or anything like that. Has anyone had anything like that before?? IS IT ACID REFLUX?? I have a flipped port and Im in the process of getting that fixed my insurance has agreed to pay for part of the surgery but not all. I was a self pay in MX. Thank you Tracey

My urine protein has jumped to 650 and I am seeing a kidney specialist in a couple weeks. I am really upset. It has never been high before. Has any one had this issue. I know renal diets are low protein. What the hell?? When I was banded in May I did not have this! I am really sick about it.

It was 2 weeks before I felt normal. I was banded on a Thursday and thought I would go back on Monday...but that didnt happen. I went back for 1/2 days on Tuesday and Wednesday then full days after that. Best I can tell you is rest when you can. Hopefully you can have help with Laundry and Housework... but if not it will be there when you feel better. Best of luck to you.

LADIES, December 7th here and I am SUPER EXCITED, NEW BEGINNINGS. Yes, we should give our cells and text each other through this process.....What you all think? I been on a pre op diet since Oct 31, three Protein shakes and a light dinner. I am oh so ready for this!!!!! Gina

Yes, I think I'm ready. I still need to shop for my after surgery meals but I have a list ready to go. I'm going to be making some broth and freezing it over the weekend (Chris brought up that great idea). Other than that I think I'm ready. I start my 2 week pre-op diet next week. On the one hand that cool because it's a sign that this is getting close but on the other hand I'm not looking forward to drinking shakes for 2 weeks but I'll live. I've also scheduled 2 weeks off of work, looking forward to having the time off. Mentall, I think I'm ready, I seem to go from excited to anxious to excited to anxious all day long. I really just want to get to the hospital and have this done already!!!!! LOL! How about you? Are you ready? -Lisa

I am to the point of just giving up. I had a band to sleeve revision on July 14th 2011. I lost 15 lbs on the liquid diet within the first two weeks.. That is all I have lost. This is not a stall. My concern is that I am still able to eat anything in any amount. I dont feel like my stomach is any smaller then it was before surgery. What can I do. How can I find out truthfully what was done to me. I have done the whole count calories, have joined weight watchers, I can lose 3 to 4 lbs only to gain it back the next week. I have been experiencing massive hair loss for the last 3 weeks. The last time that happened was when I was losing weight at about 5 lbs a week with the band. I'm not looking for the whole keep it up, it will happen replies or even the calories in calories out thing.. I want to know if if there are peolpe out there who have not experience any sort of change from having had the surgery. And if so, what did you do. Who can I contact to see what size my stomach is. the whole point of the sleeve was to help me portion control when I couldn't do it myself, well it doesn't. And it doesn't matter if I eat dense protien or if I eat slider foods.. HELP

I had some edemame and two pieces of nigiri for supper last week. I ended up getting rid of the rice. Next time I will get the sashimi. Rice still isn't working for me very well. I LOVE Japanese.

I lost 12 pounds immediately after surgery and then nothing for 3 weeks... just my body adjusting to being banded. Remember, we average just 1-2 pounds a week with the band. Look at the big picture. Your body is healing and it's not really about weight loss right now. Just keep following your doctor's orders and stick to your diet. Until you get restriction almost any weight loss will be due to your dieting efforts following your post-op diet. I've had 2 fills and I'm still pretty much doing it myself with diet and exercise. Hang in there and don't get discouraged... it will start happening for you!

@@Nerdyscared1, welcome to you. The prospect of weight-loss surgery, any surgery, in fact, is nervous-making. There's no way around it, so it's just part of the package. You have a lot going on there and there are ways that you can get some help and support. I'll just toss a few ideas out in brief. Find out at the seminar about the practice's support groups. They are for people who are pre- as well as post-surgery. Usually a monthly event, they are great for sharing information and experiences and for company. I was fortunate to make a good, personal friendship in the process. Other practices in your area probably welcome outside patients to their groups., too. Respite care. You should be able to find this either through a non-profit human and social services organization or the city, county or state health dept or dept of social services. Usually it means day activities for the disabled person so that the caretaker can have a break for other things. It may also involve someone coming in to the home to look after the disabled person. The latter can alternately come under the heading of home health care, in which a health aide comes in a pre-determined number of hours per week to provide personal care for the person, some basic cooking, grocery shopping, laundry. It may vary by agency. Therapy may be something to consider for yourself. I'd prefer that I'm misreading between the lines, but a number of things you've written suggest it. Take a class in something that interests you or identify another activity that is interesting and would put you in with people. You're saying that you have to stop smoking strikes a chord. Who wrote "The Book of Have to" and "The Book of Should?" I think that if we switch to "want to," the task is so much less daunting. Wanting to is a choice, while having to feels imposed by an outside force. Not that I always succeed at it, but I try to operate under "wanting to" and, when I get my mind there, I do much better. As an aside, my late, beloved internist, a brilliant clinician and communicator, told me that, if losing weight and quitting cigarettes were too much to take on at once, it was more important first to stop smoking.

I think you just need to give it time...I had doubts it had truly worked too! I didn't truly feel restriction until I got to soft foods and then bam, there it was. 8 lbs is not bad for a week and a half...sometimes it take a while for those fluids from the hospital to come off. Don't be discouraged!

So I was sleeved on Jan 9th with no complications,except a little burning feeling in one of,my incision scars. But my question is how do I know when my stomach is full. Not getting any signs and scared I am gonna over eat. I am getting my proteins, vitamins and water in and am only down 8lbs since the 9th. Been on a 8 labs weight loss for almost a week. Is this normal, because I am feeling frustrated. Amy helpful hints would be much appreciated, thanks so much!

IYou sound like you are exactly where I am- back and forth between excited and nervous, and I am quessing it is all pretty normal. I too am taking 2 weeks from work, but I am a little worried that it might not be enough. I just took a promotion amidst alot of shake-up in our organization and I really don't think I can be away much longer. I will make the 2 weeks count! Rebecca

I had to eat liquids for two weeks, followed by a surgery, followed by two more weeks of liquids and two of mushies. Like anyone else, I still have to exercise and watch what I eat. And no matter what, I can never just take a day off and eat whatever I want. Easy way out? I don't think so. I always tell people not to confuse successful with easy.

I’ve only told immediate family (mom, husband, my kids 20 & 28). I have also told two friends from work who both have had WSL. One I’m very close with she had lap band but about the forth week had to have it removed because of an infection. She had her surgery done in Mexico. I asked her if she would do it again and she said if insurance paid. Well ours doe s now but she doesn’t want to go through all the hoops for approval. I don’t plan on telling anyone else as it’s private to me. I wouldn’t announce getting new boobs they would announce themselves:wub: as I believe WLS will do soon enough .

My sleeve was easier than the band or the band removal. I didn't have a drain with removal and they called my surgery at 9:15 and I was home at 1:30 with a 20/25 minute drive. I did have to stay 2 nights with the sleeve and wish I hadn't because they had put in a catheter and the drain. I did have to go home with the drain for two weeks and It was a pain. But, still I hurt less and felt better sooner.

You should be able to drive yourself that far 5 days out unless you're on pain meds. I drove myself home from about 30 miles away two days after surgery on fairly busy roads, although they were all pretty straight roads. My surgery sites took about six weeks for the last one to heal completely over. The site where my drain was took the longest to heal and I wasn't allowed to swim or tub bathe until that was done. Good luck!!

I am a week away from surgery, getting excited! My surgeon is Dr. Rodriguez, surgery day is May 23rd. No one knows except hubby. He works away, but is coming with me. We will meet in Dallas then fly out to San Diego. Questions, 1) will I be able to drive myself home from airport 5 days after surgery? 2) How long does it take for surgery sites to heal?. Btw airport is very small and is only 15 miles away from home. No traffic mostly rural roads. Thanks for your help