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Hi, I am 37 years old with 2 small kids (4 years and 16 months). I am also a working mom. I had my surgery 4 days ago and so far so good. It isn't easy especially with a family. I'd like to find a mentor who has similar experiences to my own Laura

Finally got the date... Sept 10! Wish it was not so far off! But anemia threw a wrench into things. But the iron and vitamin supplements and protein shakes are already working and giving me lots more energy! Gee, imagine if I could actually lose this extra 100 person I am carrying around 24x7.... What kind of energy would I have then? So glad I made the decision to do this! There is HOPE! YAY!!

Hi Jaygerlo5- My Surgeon is Dr. Hamn. I had surg on 6-2-05. I had lost 33# by 7/10 (actually only 25# because I lost 8# before surg) I was at a plateau, and was told Dr. Hamn doesn't do the 1st fill until 10 wks post op. He was on vacation my 10th week, so I have my first fill 8/19. Before my fill, I could eat whatever I wanted. Just not as much as before the band. Now that I've has my first fill (1.5cc), I'm definately tighter. I was on liquids 3 days and then soft diet for about 1 wks. I just tried a cheese stick wrapped w/ turkey and although I chewed real good, it still feels tight, but the 1 cheese stick w/ turkey has filled me up for now. Before the Fill, I could even do a handfull of popcorn. (my favorite food.) and just about anything else. Now I hesitate because I know it's tighter. I did try popcorn yesterday and got maybe 15 pieces down and was satisfied. (they're empty calories- so I didn't fill up.) I won't lie to you. After surg- the first thing I thought was, "oh GOD, what have I done." I've never had any type of abdominal surgery before... so the abdominal pain was intense. But by the next morning, with the help of a pillow across my abdomin whenever I walked, I was doing okay. I had surg on Thursday and by Sat I was walking 1/4 mile. Daily the pain got better. I went back to work on Wednesday. (could have gone back monday- but glad I took the extra time.) The worst part was the pain at the port site incision. It felt like everytime I sat down, the port was poking under my rib. I didn't notice that after about 3-4 wks. I originally bought 2 bottles of liquid Adult strength tylenol. I still have 1/4th of the 1st bottle left. Yes- I was apprehensive. We've all been there. I kept thinking- I've lost wgt in the past I can do it again. But I knew that I needed that help of the lap-band to control my portons. I can now eat approx 1/4th of a chicken breast or about 2 oz Protein w/ veggies and possible salad or some rice and I'm full. Would I do it again...... IN A HEART BEAT!! Keep your chin up and good luck. We may run into each other in Dr. Hamn's Ofc.

I am leaning toward a plant based diet and was sleeved on 4-10. Difficult right now but am researching recipes. Protein shakes and Greek yogurt and Soup are my staples right now. I also love hummus!

(Reuters) - One night when Lynn McAfee was 5 years old, her psychologically troubled mother left her at the side of a road as punishment for a now forgotten infraction.In the minutes before her mother's car returned, the terrified girl looked toward the nearby houses on the suburban Philadelphia street and wondered if she should walk over and ask for help."But I didn't," said McAfee, 62, who is now the director of medical advocacy for the Council on Size and Weight Discrimination. "I didn't think anyone would want a fat child."The stigmatization of obesity begins in preschool: Children as young as 3 tell scientists studying the phenomenon that overweight people are mean, stupid, ugly and have few friends. It intensifies in adulthood, when substantial numbers of Americans say obese people are self-indulgent, lazy and unable to control their appetites. And it translates into poorer job prospects for the obese compared with their slim peers.It may be the nation's last, accepted form of prejudice. But the stigmatization of obesity has repercussions beyond the pain it inflicts on its targets: It threatens to impede efforts to fight the obesity epidemic."As long as we have this belief that obese people are lazy and lacking in discipline, it will be hard to get support for policies that change the environment, which are likely to have a much larger impact than trying to change individuals," said psychologist Rebecca Puhl of the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.That barrier to action is becoming clearer as the nation grapples with the costs of having two-thirds of adults overweight or obese. This week, an influential health panel proposed changes to an obesity-promoting environment, from farm policies to zoning, trying to shift the debate away from personal blame.A new Reuters/Ipsos online poll of 1,143 adults from May 7 to 10 captures some of the prejudicial attitudes. Asked to identify the main cause of the epidemic, 61 percent chose "personal choices about eating and exercising"; 19 percent chose the actions of food manufacturers and the fast-food industry. The poll is accurate to within 3.6 percentage points. Because of the methods used to collect the data, accuracy is measured using a statistical measure called a credibility interval.Reflecting the belief that the obese have only themselves to blame, 49 percent of respondents favored allowing insurers to charge obese people more for health insurance.Poll respondents also showed broad support for efforts that target the food industry: 56 percent wanted to limit advertising of unhealthy food or taxing sugared soda, 77 percent were in favor of calorie counts at restaurants and sport arenas. But an all-out ban on fast-food restaurants? America loves its Big Macs: Only 21 percent said yes.EFFECTS OF THE STIGMAOne effect of the obesity stigma is that discrimination on the basis of weight is legal. Michigan is the only state that prohibits it, along with a few towns and cities. Everywhere else, it is legal to deny people jobs or refuse to rent them an apartment if they are obese. The fact that two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese has not led to bans on such discrimination.That does not surprise McAfee, who weighs about 500 pounds. "Studies show that fat people are even more prejudiced against fat people" than thin people are, she said.Even respected leaders such as New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, seen as a potential running mate for Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, are not spared the mockery.Christie's girth was the target of fat jokes at the White House Correspondents' dinner last month, though he shrugged them off."When you're overweight, fair or unfair, there's going to be those who make really awful comments about you and there are going to be people who make jokes about it. That's the way it goes," Christie told reporters.The stigma also hurts the efforts of America's 73 million obese adults and 12 million obese children to get back to a healthy weight: Targets of stigma often fall into depression or withdraw socially. Both make overeating, binge eating, and a sedentary existence more likely, studies show.Sophie Lewis and her colleagues at Monash University in Australia interviewed hundreds of obese adults who were the target of such comments as "look at that fat lady!" when out in public. As a result, found Lewis, obese people are less likely to exercise by walking outdoors.Even healthcare professionals hold negative attitudes about the obese, studies show. Physicians often spend less time with an obese patient, for instance, and do not counsel them about a healthy lifestyle, perhaps believing it would fall on deaf ears.Doctors and nurses who telegraph negative attitudes toward the obese can keep them from seeking treatment for diabetes, found a study led by Elizabeth Teixeira of Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions in Philadelphia."Patients are afraid of hearing, 'you're fat,' or 'just lose weight,' as if it were that easy," said Teixeira, a nurse practitioner specializing in diabetes. "I've had patients tell me they delay seeking care, even having their blood pressure or glucose checked, because they don't want to be lectured."A 2010 study by scientists at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore found that the fatter a patient, the more likely a doctor is to assume he or she is not taking medications as prescribed. That, other studies have shown, can keep physicians from prescribing needed meds, assuming they won't be taken.Taking all that data into account, it may not be surprising how reluctant people are to call themselves obese. In the Reuters/Ipsos poll, 14 percent of respondents said they are obese. Based on their self-reported height and weight, 26 percent are obese according to U.S. guidelines.SHIFTING THE DEBATEThe belief that obesity reflects personal decisions implies that the solution, too, should be personal: Eat less, move more. But as the Institute of Medicine argued this week, the most effective way to combat obesity is to change the environment.For average American adults, willpower is no match for "an environment in which we are constantly bombarded by food and food cues," said David Kessler, former head of the Food and Drug Administration and author of the 2009 book, "The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite." "Lecturing people doesn't work."The IOM recommended building sidewalks to make it easier for people to walk, banning sugary drinks from schools and requiring 60 minutes of daily exercise in grades K-12, reducing portion sizes in schools and restaurants, and making low-cal choices widely available and as affordable as super-sized ice cream cones. Most important, it concluded, was changing the "messaging," including the ubiquitous marketing of calorie-dense food.Fat stigma makes those ideas ripe for attack by an industry that says how much to eat and move reflects individual choice. The restaurant- and food-industry-funded Center for Consumer Freedom called the IOM "arrogant and absurd" for suggesting "that Americans are too stupid to make their own food choices." By proposing to keep unhealthy, calorie-dense food out of school lunch programs, it said, "food nannies" like the IOM are "flatly arguing against consumers having any choice in their snacks and meals."In the Reuters/Ipsos poll, respondents were almost evenly split over "government intervention" to reduce obesity, with 52 percent supporting it and 48 percent opposing it. There was greater support for specific steps, with 87 percent in favor of requiring 30 minutes per day of exercise in school.ROOTS OF THE STIGMAPsychologist Chris Crandall of the University of Kansas has found that young adults who stigmatize obesity tend to be more ideologically conservative, favoring traditional sex roles and capital punishment, his studies found."Particularly in America, self-determination and individual choice is a fundamental value," he said. "We blame people for everything that happens to them - being poor, being obese. It's the ‘just world' idea that people get what they deserve."The stigma is less pronounced in countries such as India, Mexico and Turkey, whose cultures assign more collective responsibility for personal outcomes, Crandall found. His studies, going back to the 1990s, surveyed hundreds of people worldwide about how closely they associate obesity with adjectives such as lazy and stupid.Americans also stand out in their conviction that hard work and determination lead to success, while failure is due to lack of effort."Being thin has come to symbolize such important values as being disciplined and in control," said Yale's Puhl. The converse: If someone is not thin, he must be lacking in those virtues.Indeed, some Americans value thinness more than life itself. In a 2007 study, 24 percent of women and 17 percent of men said they would trade three or more years of life to be svelte.Yet despite the rising personal stakes, a growing body of research shows just how hard it is for the average person to keep the pounds off.Just before speaking to Reuters, McAfee had exercised for an hour in her Florida pool and had a salad for lunch."I work out, I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, and I'm still not thin," she said. "So please stop beating the crap out of me: It's completely counterproductive."(Additional reporting by Edith Honan; Editing by Michele Gershberg and Prudence Crowther)

Stalls suck...but get used to it!!! It's REALLY....REALLY...REALLY FRUSTRATING....but the are going to happen!!! And I gave definitely gotten on the scale and gained 2-3 pounds!!! Don't let it bother you. You will get past it and the scale will move again. I'm on quite a roller coaster right now where I only lose once a month. Crazy!! I'll drop 10 lbs at beginning of month...and then the stall belts get fastened...and I go for a 3 week stall journey!

Y big day is almost here do many emotions. However thinking positive. Sent from my iPhone using VST

Hi 10/11/12ers! I am down 8-1/2 pounds since surgery and a total loss of 32 lbs. since started Pre-op diet on 8/15/12: Start weight: 279 8/15/12 Surgery: 255.5 10/11/12 Today: 247 10/18/12 (Halloween mini-goal - 240)

Hi - I am a 10/11/12 sleever too! Just got back from Mexico last night. So far, so good. Keeping a close watch on drain hole opening. Everything went okay for me although it was more traumatic (drastic) than I thought it would be. Went through a short period of "what have I done"..... but got over that pretty quick. Now back at home I'm seeing the possibilities of how I can add variety to my next month's diet. Still puffy on stomach, sore around major incisions. Like others, I am having a hard time seeing me looking right after weight loss - feel like I will have tons of sagging, loose skin, especially around my upper thighs. They look so bad now that I just foresee them looking really bad later. BUT, I don't plan to be showing my upper thighs to people. If they fit in smaller pants I'll be happy! Let's post progress reports so we can use each other as gauges to assess our progressions!

Hey Everyone I'm New here and I'm getting my Sleeve on 9/19 I'm a bit nervous , but I have been planning and going to class's, support groups and changing the way I eat, the way I think about food and my exercise routine since February of this year. So far I have lost 25 lbs since Feb, and thats just cutting out sodas, changing my foods and working out. I'm excited to find this site and learn more , make friends and get help if I need it.

bless your heart, girl I was there too; the ins denied me 3 times and then on the 4th try I had my Rhumetologist call them saying I had fibromyalgia and sure enough i was approved the very next day and my surgery was june 30th 2011. as for pain, I wish I could tell you it didnt hurt...sorry...right when I came too in the recovery room it sucked ass, it hurt so freaking bad I cried. however oddly enough the pain didnt last that long (5-10 min) and it was like nothing happened. lol...girl my point is dont think about the pain, think about the future you will have being smaller. also as for cheating, I did aswell. the only way you wouldnt have it is if you cheated everyday. you will be fine! if you need anything let me know, Ill do my best to walk you through

Yes I'm 10 days out and I've lost only 15. I'm going to start going to the gym and getting on the treadmill for 30 mins and see if it start coming off more, but we have to remember it's a long process Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App It's a life change Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I had Pancrititis in 97 which had nothing to do with the band or gall stones. I had a reaction to a medication that put me in the hospital with it and it got so bad that I ended up with Lactic Acidosis on top of it. My body pretty much turned itself into a acid factory, I couldn't keep anything down and my body was starting to shut itself down. Luckily one of the staff of Doctors which I had probably about 10-12 of them trying to figure out stuff, but a Nephrologist was able to figure it out working with my sister and they found a specialist that deals with it. Anyway My Mom also got Pancrititis because she had a couple of pea sized gall stones caught int he bile ducts. Which caused this issue on her, not fun at all. You do feel pain when it is coming on, this might sound horribly gross but when you vomit it is kind of unlike anything else you have seen. She had to be taken to the ER by Ambulance, and I did tell the Paramedics to check for Pancrititis first thing. They relayed the info and it was correct, that is kinda how distinct the vomit is Gross part: Vomit in cases that I have heard of or seen personally. It almost a flourescent green color, with what looks like multi colors of yellow and almost swirly.. think of the painting A starry night but in shades of green!!! Cannot keep anything down! I have not had any issues since being banded, however having gone through this before I am careful what I do eat and even if weight loss is a bit slower that is fine with me. The pain you feel with it is pretty severe, vomiting, alot of times a fever, and just plain wiped out. But you wont most likely be able to keep anything down.. Popsicle, Gatorade, Water, anything.... try not to be freaked out about it just get it checked out.

Interested to find out how everyone’s diabetes and blood sugar levels have been since they’ve had surgery. I’m still early in the process and hoping to have VSG in May or June of 2019. Improvement in my overall health, especially with my diabetes is my main reason for pursuing surgery. Thank you!!

Hello everyone. Well this is my second go round... I was scheduled approved and ready to go on march 20th. I went into the OR, surgery started and spots were found on my liver and spleen and a mass on my stomach. After 7 days in the hospital, liver biopsy's and 3 weeks of antibiotics to rule out several infectious diseases... Here I am. June 19 is my new date and we are a GO! This process is complex and the preop liver shrinking diet (if you are required) is not bad but tough... If I can answer any questions about it let me know... If you are interested in a secret Facebook group (no one but group members can see) let me know I did one for another group.

Hi, I am 10 days post op and am now on the 'mushies' stage. Just curious if anyone has ever had trouble with mashed potatoes? It's one of the foods listed on my surgeons guide, but my mom has me totally freaked out that they will get stuck or something. So just wondering someone's experience who is banded with them, I've been kind of nervous about eatting.

Misty, go ak for a slight unfill. You should not live with only drinking liquids. I don't knw if you have followed anu=yones suggeestions yet, but if not you are 10 days of liquids. See your surgeon on MOday. Best wishes, Karen

I am struggling today as well. I need a NAP! I am so tired that i'm having trouble focusing and I really, really do want to go back to bed--and it's only 10:34 am. I''m on day 4 of this and it's veg Soup and Protein shake, and Protein Shake and veg soup and for some variety, some more protein shake. Like you, I refuse to mess it up, but by golly, August 2nd can NOT come fast enough.

This is from Tiffykins........she has the best research. Hope this helps. The first links are other VSG patients that are further out. Long-term Sleeve Experiences - 2 Years on January 15, 2010 9:11 pm Diligence-is-always-required Stalls-Happen Update-from-a-2-Year-Post-Op-VSGer 2-year-surgiversary-and-feeling Two-and-one-half-years-post-op TWO-YEARS-YALL Just-Passed-My-2-Year-Surgiversary questions-for-post-ops-2-years-out-or-more 2-years-out-food-amount-info anyone-2-years-out Happy-2-year-anniversary-to-me 2-years-post-op-TODAY 2-5-Years-After-a-VSG Everday-life-at-2-5-years-out 2-1-2-year-update Has-it-really-been-2-years 2-1-2-year-update Two-Year-Surgiversary 2-year-update-portrait-of-a-heavyweight-a-bit-late Two-year-surgiversary 2-and-1-2-years-later 2-years-since-my-surgery-any-advice-on-face-lift 2-year-post-op-pics Two-Years-Before-amp-After-Pic 2-year-update-portrait-of-a-heavyweight-a-bit-late Thought-you-might-enjoy-an-update-with-a-few-pics Busybusymom-is-back-2-years-post-op TWO-YEARS-BABY Any-old-timers-still-lurking-the-boards Long-term Sleeve Experiences - 3 Years on June 8, 2009 10:43 pm Three years out Three and a half years after Vertical Gastrectomy My Story A quick 2 year and 3 year VSG update Third Year Surgiversay Not always easy but always worth it Very Discouraged 3 years out Links for researching the VSG on March 15, 2009 11:18 pm Here are some links I've collected when I was researching the sleevehttp://www.asmbs.org/Newsite07/resources/Updated_Position_Statement_on_Sleeve_Gastrectomy.p df. - includes reports of early studies LapSF Educational presentation to FACS - includes some 2 year results LapSF Two Year Study LapSF Five Year Study - abstract only LapSF Five Year Study - presentation (requires Windows to play) Literature review on the sleeve - requires $$ to get the full text unfortunately (Totally worth the money) Sleeve best for over 50 crowd Video of a sleeve with lots of education discussion Video of a sleeve that is more about the operation Ghrelin levels after RnY and sleeve Ghrelin levels after band and sleeve Diabetes resolution in RnY vs. Sleeve Comparison of band to sleeve - literature review I used this website a lot. I paid for some of the full articles that grabbed my attention based on the abstracts. There are several articles that you can comb through that interest you. Once you read an abstract, on the right hand side of the page, there are other related articles listed that you may find interesting. SpringerLink - All Content Items SSAT - SSAT 2008 Annual Meeting Abstracts - Laparoscopic Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy for Morbid Obesity: a Report of a Five-Year Experience with 750 Patients</b> Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy (LSG) In Morbid Obesity: Review https://www.highbeam.com/reg/reg1.as....html&full=yes This was recommended to me for post-op options for meals, and just a guide. [ame=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061242853?ie=UTF8&tag=mybiglife-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0061242853]Amazon.com: Before & After, Revised Edition: Living and Eating Well After Weight-Loss Surgery (9780061242854): Susan Maria Leach: Books[/ame] [ame=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061242853/][/ame] [ame=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061242853/]Amazon.com: Before & After, Revised Edition: Living and Eating Well After Weight-Loss Surgery (9780061242854): Susan Maria Leach: Books[/ame] This one is cool because it shows a significant decrease in ghrelin with VSG patients vs. RNY patients. Weight loss, appetite suppression, and changes in ... [Ann Surg. 2008] - PubMed result Abstract on diabetes/glucose/insulin regulation with VSG vs. RNY stating that at 3 months out with the patients studied, RNY and VSG had no marked difference in improved lab results with their glucose showing that rerouting is not always necessary for resolution of this particula co-morbidity. Improvement in glucose metabolism after bariatric ... [Ann Surg. 2009] - PubMed result Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: an innovative new tool in the battle against the obesity epidemic in Canada Edit to add: If my insurance would not have come through with my revision, I would have traveled to Mexico, and my choice in surgeon was also Dr. Aceves as a revision surgeon. There are a lot of really great surgeons in Mexico and the U.S. it really all depends on your comfort level, and what you want and need from a program.

I had the "regular" sleeve, 7/1/10, by Dr. Rodriguez. The surgery, his staff, the hospital, etc. exceeded my expectations. I went by myself and didn't have any problems.

Poodles, Hey I used Benavides also. How have you done when going back to the office? I just got my first fill a few weeks ago, up to 2.2 cc in my 4cc band. I was just like you couldn't eat solids to save my life. Okay a cracker or two would go down, but no meat, no Pasta, no thick mashed potatoes, no steamed veggies, not much of anything. So I went back before Christmas for an unfill. I now have 1.8cc in my band, but now i feel like there is not much restriction. For lunch I ate one of those Michelinas diet dinners, but it was either 8 or 10 oz, so I think I am too loose now. I am contemplating going back for another filll again, even though it's only been a couple of weeks since my unfill. Kristi

I just found out last night that if you answered the qauestionerre in the beginning, that yes you were abused as a child, surgery is an automatic NO! They will make you go thru months & months of psychiatric care....so NOW I am not sur if I will get my surgery soon or not, I do NOT remember how I answered that question. BUT I have already had 10 yrs. of therapy. Don't know if that counts or not..

So I got sleeved on 10/17. At first I was having these insane hunger pains and always wanted to be consuming (I think it was boredom) but now I can barely finish anything and I only eat because I haven't all day and feel like I need to. I'm just like not hungry it's so weird. And when I do eat, I over do it because I'm worried about my lack of calories and Protein (I drink 2 premier Protein shakes a day). I guess I'm wondering if anyone experienced the same thing? How do I consume more calories? Without feeling sick? And will this pass? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I don't think you should think about picking anything over 10 lbs up and certainly not lifting it up and over your head. Ship what you need to your moms house now so you don't worry.

I live in Houston and will be getting sleeved next Wednesday 7/19 in New Orleans. I have a flight back to Houston on July 31st, should I be able to lift a small carry on bag by then? I'm staying with my mom to recover for the first week or so and I don't have any clothes at her house and don't want to leave anything there. It's small enough to go under the seat so I don't have to lift it but my mom is terrified that carrying anything heavier than my purse will hurt me.