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Greetings, We are graduate students from the University of North Texas Health Science Center, and we are conducting a research study concerning the perceived psychological and physiological changes after the vertical sleeve gastrectomy surgery (VGS). If you have had the VGS surgery, are at least 18 years old, and are interested in sharing your experiences with us, please fill out this short online survey. The survey should take no more than 10 minutes to fill out and is completely anonymous. We will not ask you for any identifiable personal information such as name, phone number, etc. You may decline to answer any of the questions and may stop your participation at any time. Your responses will be saved electronically in a third-party server. Since the survey is anonymous, there is no way we can identify your responses. We will only perform statistical analysis on aggregate data. If you have any questions before, during or after filling out the survey, please feel free to contact us at vsgresearch@gmail.com. Below is a URL hyperlink to the survey. By following it, you acknowledge that you have had the vertical sleeve gastrectomy surgery. We appreciate your time and attention. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VSGResearch

Google the 5 day pouch test. It helps to get you back on track. One oft girlfriends had bypass 10 years ago and gained 20+ I told her about this and it has helped her. Good luck you can get back on track.

I always have a hard time "coating the truth". When people ask me how I am losing weight I try to say just portion control and exercise rather than admitting to the band. 9 times out of 10 though I admit to the band after a few more questions! I just can't keep my mouth shut. I also am not very subtle about food choices and PB problems so I end up "outing" myself that way. Overall though, I tried to keep it quiet at first. At least now the effects of the "glass house" and having everyone watching me and inflicting their expectations on to me are alot easier to handle now that I'm on the successful side of weight loss.............It is a very personal decision and I think that whatever decision you make about telling people or not telling will probably be flexible over time. Once you have had some success and/or are more comfortable living with the band then maybe it won't seem like such a big deal if others know. I find myself very casual (almost) about it now, and I am genuinely surprised at some people's reactions to WLS. I forget that they might still see it as "drastic" because they are not accustomed to it like me & my family/friends.........

Onmywaytoslimville, Thanks for sharing a part of your story in this thread. Like you, I have set small goals to accomplish on this weight loss journey. I started out at 213 lbs, so my first goal was to enter onderland again...so I celebrated 199 lbs. I am currently 188 lbs., and my next goal is 180 lbs. and I plan to set goals in chunks of ten pounds until I reach my ultimate goal of 150 lbs. The smallest I have been in the last 10 or so years is 158 lbs., so I definitely look forward to losing some virgin fat. Good luck everyone and KUTGW...because we're worth it!

I think tracking is important, I do that too. I am just always getting mad about those foods. Yesterday, my husband brought a bag of "baked" chips. They had 10 calories less for a serving but a lot more ingredients than regular chips. Add to that they don't even remotely taste as nice as normal chips - no good crunch, not as satisfying - and the calorie savings are really not worth mentioning. That said, I think it is perfectly fine to use less butter, use a cut of meat with less fat or use ground turkey instead of ground pork, but I think the problem starts when fat (sugar/carbs) are replaced with artificial stuff. I noticed from tracking, that I seem to not even get the recommended amount of fat even though I am eating 2% yogurt, drinking 2% milk and am cooking with olive oil...but I also don't want to eat a spoon full of Peanut Butter just to up the fat...but maybe I should? Or almond butter?

I have been doing very well with my weight loss - lost 102 pounds so far. I am working out - exercising so I can decrease the amount of extra skin sagging - so I try very hard to stay on track. However, for a few days, now I have been feeling a little weak and not quite myself. Friday morning, I was into my usual routine - I had just gotten dressed for the day, and I was going to walk my dog.Then I began to get some pains in my chest - at first I did not think much about it, until it started radiating down my left arm - my arm and fingers began to get numb. I sat down to relax, but the pain stayed with me for 10-15 minutes. After the pain passed, I took my dog out for a walk, but I still did not feel quite like myself so I came back home. About an hour later I went to the store, but the pain started again and I drove myself to the hospital emergency room - I thought I was having a heart attack. I was examined, and they admitted me to the hospital for tests. They found that my potassium level was way too low. It should have been 3.5 - mine was 2.5. So they gave me some potassium - I could not take the pills, of course, because they were too big for my LAP-BAND® to permit. The other choice was by IV, but I was told by both the doctors and the nurses that this would be very uncomfortable because it would burn. So I asked them if there were a 3rd choice, liquid, and they said yes. So I started taking this liquid potassium, which also burned going down and tasted terrible. I asked my doctor why the potassium level was so low, and what caused the problem that brought me into the hospital. He does not believe I had a heart attack, and he began telling me why potassium levels go down. As he was talking, a light bulb went off, and I realized what was happening. He mentioned that not enough food as well as vomiting could cause this potassium deficiency and numbness in the arm. I have been throwing up when I eat something that does not agree with my band, so this seems to be the problem. Also, I'm not eating enough food. All the tests I took in the hospital came back negative for a heart problem, fortunately. The answer for me is to increase my potassium intake - unfortunately, I hate bananas and orange juice does not agree with me because of the acid. So, I started my first banana in the hospital - making that face that children make when eating something they hate, and I ate 1/2! YEA! LOL. I ate 1/2 not because that was all I could eat, but because it was all I could stand! YUK. So what I am trying to say here is if anyone out there is throwing up a lot, and also not eating enough, have your potassium level checked. Potassium is called Natural Diuretic as it easily gets absorbed by our body and almost 85-90% of it is excreted from our bowels and kidneys (urine). Because of its alkaline property, it is a very important mineral which helps our body system to maintain of pH level balanced and also to maintain proper level of water inside body. The most important function of Potassium in human body is to keep blood pressure under control and help in intra-cellular nutrient transfer. It also helps in keeping acne, some type of allergies, fatigue, kidney stones etc. problems at bay. It is very important to take healthy and Potassium rich diet everyday in order to keep our body functioning properly and feel healthy. I'm ok - this is something I will have to deal with - I will start eating yucky banannas and drink diluted orange juice. Maybe one day bananas will grow on me and I will be able to tell you I love them.

Just hoping someone could explain this to me, please. I know to stay away from slider foods such as ice cream, shakes, etc. but was wondering how the stomach differentiates between well chewed foods (ex: Soups, crackers, and even salads) if we're supposed to chew them until they're applesauce consistancy? Went to Olive Garden for their Soup and salad special the other day and couldn't eat the soup even though I chewed very well (Soup Fajoule, but it was very, very think - stew consistancy) but the salad went down great. I had to stop when I thought I had enough because I really didn't feel my band helping me out like I usually do with other foods. Hope my question makes sense. Thanks in advance for any responses! Banded 10-7-08 320/284 as of 12/17

So, I am 10 weeks post op & when I went in for recent checkup they drew labs. Apparently, my potassium is low, as well as my Iron. I had to see a hematologist who has now put me on a liquid potassium & I have to have a series of iron infusions done. In between everything, I have to have labs drawn to keep track of my levels. Has anyone else had these issues & is this a long term problem?

I went a seminar in Sept 06. Called my insurance co. Oct. 06 and ask what was needed for approval. Made a list as they dictated the info necessary for approval. Went to my family practice MD with my list. He scheduled my sleep apnea test, stress test, chest x-ray, blood work, and gave sent my medical records for past 5 years that showed my many attempts at weight loss and my health issues with BP, arthritis, back pain, family history of heart and stroke issues. He also sent a letter of recommendation for the surgery. My neurosurgeon that I went to for back pain also gave me a letter of recommendation for the weight loss surgery at my request. This all took 6 months to complete only because the dietician and the psych visits had to be scheduled by the weight loss clinic as well as the videos and questionaires. I was told I needed additional blood work to rule out bacteria in the stomach. It took two more weeks for that(actually 10 days). I was approved on March 23, 2007 and had surgery the following Thursday March 29, 2007. Hope all this makes sense. Good luck with your adventure!

Congrats, another July Bandster. I'm Sherri, I'm getting banded July 10, in Monterrey Mexico. I don't now yet but I would say listen to your doctor. You don't wont to twist real fast and tear a stitch and your port move or something. Just mho though. Good luck and will be thinking of you. Sherri

My dr instructed me to take whatever pills I hafta take as soon as I was able. I cut back on my pills the first few weeks (also PPI in capsule form, but I just take the whole capsule) but had to resume taking my Gabapentin ( a HUGE horse pill) after 3 weeks cuz my back was KILLING me. Now, I take whatever pills I needs to take (Chewable vit, b12, Calcium, 2 different pain pills, pill for my thyroid, PPI, and birth control. Oh and my nightly sleeping pill). I've had absolutely no problems taking pills. I used to pop about 8-10 of them at once, but I've vut that back to 2. Then 5 minutes later, another 2 And so on

I have between 8-10 to goal which is 154. I am having the hardest time.

I'm September 10 too start my liquid diet tomorrow only get veggies with lunch and dinner. Have my pre-op Wednesday. This is month end and they feed us Friday well not me. Good luck to all of us on our journey.

I'm September 10 too start my liquid diet tomorrow only get veggies with lunch and dinner. Have my pre-op Wednesday. This is month end and they feed us Friday well not me. Good luck to all of us on our journey.

So I'm 10 weeks and 6 days out and well this week I'm gaining weight!!!!!!!! So I'm frustrated.... But I know why I'm gaining but the point is I can eat any and everything with no problem. Ugh so I had some chocolates of course I did it goes down, it goes down really well. Although I have to say it again everything goes down really well. I guess I'm starting to panic this AM when the scale read up a few pounds. I was sick for a week and a half so I haven't worked out either. Ugh... I need to get back on the loosing track. It's just so hard. I know I need to plan my meals but I haven't all week I clearly know what the problem is but I wish my band could kick in to gear with me and stop me from being able to eat so much. Oh and this darn TOM that just won't go away I have been spotting since like a week after surgery and this AKA period was the worst ever it was heavy and I would have bleed threw situations all weekend. WOW as I'm rambiling on here and I'm seeing issues. I wonder if the PMS is making me crave chocolate. AM I a wide open TOM girl, because last months AKA TOM I was tighter then all get out!!!!! ugh My madness is complete MADNESS!!! Let me finish this blog on a good note: I do know that before the band I probably wouldn't have lost these 25 pounds I would have gained them so I'm greatful I was able to have willpower the first 10 weeks. I will try and continue from today to go back to my band rules and not eat other then Protien first, Veggies, Fruits, starches and sweets if I'm still hungry. AND DRINK MY WATER... AND WAIT THE WHOLE 1 HOUR AFTER MEALS to drink... PEACE!!!!!!

I lost 83 pounds my first year. I just had my 2 year anniversary and I am down another 19. Once I hit 100 down last summer I bounced up and down the same 3 pounds, until it was 7 that I gained! I have been trying to stay around 1,000 calories a day for the last 2 weeks and have lost all that I gained and an additional pound.

Lizzee038 I just saw you live in the Hughesville area. I live in La Plata. I'm going through Bluepoint Surgical Group with Dr moazzez. I saw you were looking for a mentor. Well since you already had surgery I can't be your mentor but I just thought I'd say hi since you live nearby. Do you go to the support group at st Mary's Hospital ? It meets the second saturday of the month at 10 am I'm pretty sure. I haven't been to it yet but I'm going to go in September. I'm looking for a mid September approval and a end of October surgery. Get back in touch if you want to. Hope everything's going well for you as you continue to recover .... Jenn

Jenni, I am going through the same exact thing! I was oddly happy to log on and see your post. Not because I am happy that you are hungry, but happy that I am not alone! I was banded on 3/10. As of 3/25 I had lost 9lbs. Of course I had been on a liquid diet for 3 weeks. My doctor started me on normal foods as of the 27th, but told me to start with softer foods first to make sure I had no problems. I returned back to work on the 28th and have gained back 4 pounds. I am freaking!! I have not had any fills yet. I am starving all of the time, but trying to really watch what I eat and not eat to much. I don't feel like i can get full. Please, someone tell me this will change and I will be successful! I hope someone can give us some advice and encouragement.

It could be worse. I'm 2 months out and I only lost 7 lbs last month. And that is with tracking, counting, measuring, and exercising faithfully. Sent from my Nexus 10 using the BariatricPal App

7/28/09 I must hate myself. Right? why else would I do this to myself. I’m like a fast food junkie. This must be what it feels like to be hooked on crack. Always thinking about your next hit and where it’s going to come from. The moment I feel a twinge of lunch-time hunger I’m all about where I’m going to snag my next “hit”. Then I eat and for about 30 seconds I enjoy it right before the guilt sets in. Then about 10 minutes later I feel terrible. Bloated and full and yucky, which just accentuates the guilt. And the cycle continues…I must hate myself. right? or I wouldn’t eat like I do. I’m actually to a point where I’m going to have a doctor surgically restrict my stomach capacity. Oh God please don’t let me fail. This is like my only chance. All I have to do is follow the rules. I try so hard to be optimistic and not think about the possibility of failure but it’s there. In my head, it’s there. That voice, that sounds oddly like my mothers, saying “why bother, you’re not going to be able to follow the rules.” Am I in denial because I’m not allowing myself to really even think about the possibility of failure or is that what I’m supposed to do? If the root cause is self hate then really will the surgery even work? Have I been fooling myself all these years into thinking I liked myself? I’m mean really I must hate myself. right? or I wouldn’t eat like I do….

Trish, I know! I have been doing the pre op diet my doc ordered for me and I have actually gotten used to eating on the atkins induction. LOL everytime I feel like complaining I remember that in 10 days I will be on liquids. I am trying to make all of the nessecary preparations and think ahead to somethings I need to get out of the way that I wont be able to do for 4-6 weeks. Like stretching my canvases. Keep me updated on a specific date and I will write it on my calendar.

Alrighty, about 5 days ago I started burning in the throat/esophagus. When I tried to describe it to my doc today, I said throat and he said that has nothing to do with the band, and then I tried to tell him it did, it is hard to pinpoint where these things hurt. He basically argues with me about anything I say to him! It has something to do with this band, I can tell. I've never had this - except once. For 9 months they thought it was gerd and tried all that. Then a homeopath figured out that I had a yeast infection that settled in my throat! of all places. 2 weeks of nystatin and I was fine. After all the meds and the endoscopy! So. For 5 days I've had this burn, and now I'll go see my g.p. (surgeon is 8 hours away) I made an appt with the surgeon for 10 days from now. Anyone else experienced this just as a minor problem? I read the major ones and I don't want to go there!!!! aggravated. and burning.

Why do people make this out to be more difficult than it actually is???? My Dr. had a 10 week course (actually a little longer).....starting from the day of surgery....it was regular office visits 4 weeks apart for weigh ins, some Q&A, perhaps a fill..... He made it perfectly clear, having that Yellow-Green-Red Chart on the wall, that that was exactly where he wanted me to be....through a series of visits and fills...... First phase - pre surgery, then then actual day of surgery 2nd Phase....series of office visits and adjustments to get the band properly working as it is designed to do.... 3rd Phase.....go live your new life to it's fullest...

Hi, I'm day 10 post lap band surgery. I was told to take off my dressings today which I have done. However, I have steri-strips over each of the wounds. I'm sure I remember in my post anaesthetic state the surgeon saying he used dissolvable sutures! Do you think I should try taking the steri-strips off as well or leave them on until they fall off?