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I have a feeling we bandsters are going to hear a lot of crap from a lot of people for the rest of our lives. I'm sure there are many others around this site like me. Since I was 18 (many moons ago) I've probably lost over 500 pounds total. You know the cycle, 5 off, 10 on, 10 off, 20 on and so on. You must remember since you are so young that you will need to make some drastic life changing ways. This isn't really the easy way out like some think. I was camping right after my surgery (in fact I was still on liquids) and one night there was a young girl there that had had lap band and she was eating and drinking like there was no tomorrow. She told my daughter she did what she wanted but just not as often. Needless to say she hasn't lost much weight. I can't understand why someone would go to that much trouble to have surgery just to eat around the band. I didn't say anything to her but just sat in awe. I also hear many times why choose to have a surgery you don't have to have? I have no comment to come back with but I think so many people, especially heavier ones, are just jealous because they haven't got the courage to do it themselves. And then you will get all the statistics about why it is bad. Why don't these same people give you the statistics about why it is good. This is your life and if you choose to make yourself healthier through surgery it's no one's business but yours. I've only been out for 9 weeks and I have yet to think, gee I wish I hadn't done that. Since I was a self pay I had to do a lot of soul searching to justify spend that kind of money but since I'm now single and am not fincially responsible for anyone else I knew it was the right choice for me. That doesn't mean that I wouldn't have if I had dependents because an early death would be a financial burden and an emotional devistation to my kids too. Now I'm planning on living longer to spend the rest of my retirement and not leave any for the kids. I'm going to live longer so I can do the things I want to do with retirement. I'm just rattleing now but I think these are ideas I've been needing to put down somewhere. You go for the surgery and don't worry about the putter downers. Yes, you can be anxious. Yes, you will probably be a little sore for awhile. Yes, you can go back to work, especially at a desk job. I went back to running my in home day care a week after surgery. I was just really careful not to pick up kids. Good luck

Hi, I was banded this morning, I feel really good besides the obvious soreness. Already sick of beef broth though. LOL. Ready to get back into my size 6 jeans. I am now in a 14-16.

Well Mary told me Ashley would call me on Friday the 19, but I never heard from her, emailed Mary and on Tuesday the 23rd Adept Ashley called and apologized apparently the list they have messes up and my name was missing, but once I emailed Mary, they researched it and found me, I got my date right then, I chose a Monday since that's one if my days off, I check in at 11 surgery at 1, and it was all pretty easy, got my pre-op date too, which is the day I start my liquid diet 8/5 I can't have anything until after the testing, since you have to fast. Then they email a list of dates and info on your follow up appt and pre-op diet and what to expect.

Dont forget about sugar free popsicles and juice. I couldnt do the broth it made me gag. I ate a lot of the gogurt packs and popsicles. Glad to hear you are doing so well after 10 hours. I was still in and out of napping.

Thanks for all the feedback yesterday! Two weeks from Saturday, I will have the cut. So, stay tuned, I'm sure there will be pics by October 18th!! I watched the Biggest Loser last night. I know that it is the most realistic approach to weight loss seeing that we wouldn't have time to work out 8-10 hours a day. But I just love seeing what people can do. The first thing that struck me is that I'm not sure if I could do a Biggest Loser work out! I work out a lot, but what they were doing was amazing. I was so proud of myself for jogging on a 5.0 incline yesterday for 30 seconds. She was having them at a 7.0 incline for longer!! I realize they are puking and I don't push myself to that point, but it is still amazing what you can do if someone is pushing you and you are receptive. Second thing that struck me was when one of the guys had a bit of a breakdown and he questioned how he had gotten there. That really struck home for me. I grew up "the fat girl." Looking at the pictures from my past, I wasn't that big. Even my dad said to me that when he looks back at old pictures he doesn't remember me being that small. I think part of it was that I weigh heavy. I was roughly the same size as some of my friends, but I weighed a good 20-30 pounds more than they did. That remains true today. My mom & I are wearing the same size clothes (for the most part), but she weighs over 40 pounds less than I do. So I think that we had a mindset from the beginning that I was FAT, when maybe I wasn't really. Then I think we (I) became so focused on it. I went to my first Weight Watchers meeting in 4th grade. At the time, I just wanted to be smaller, but in retrospect, there were probably better ways to focus my attention. I was on NutriSystem in high school and I consistently snuck food. My parents found out and (rightly so) got angry for wasting money. I just felt like a big, fat failure. I remember going to fast food restaurants with my family and my brother ordered french fries, but I couldn't. Now I wonder if I really wasn't allowed to, or if I just felt too guilty (fat) to order them. I honestly do not know. When I got to college, I ate whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted it. However, my Freshman year I didn't have a car and I walked all over the place, including to my job which was several blocks away from campus. My sophomore year I had a car, but by December I had moved into the Sorority quad which in my case meant a 4th floor walk up! I think walking those 3 flights of stairs multiple times a day kept me in check through the end of my junior year. My senior year I moved off campus. I was only a block away from where I was before, but it was on the first floor and instead of walking to classes, I drove. It was ridiculous and I'm quite sure that I gained 40-50 pounds that year. I entered college around 185 and I left college around 250. I fluctuated between 200 and 260 for 13 years until I decided I had enough. I have been to Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig. I have worked out, taken pills prescribed by the doctor and over the counter. I have done Atkins and South Beach. But nothing worked or it did for a little while until I couldn't stay at it. In November 2009 I weighed a whopping 285 pounds. I weighed more that my (hefty) dad. It was hard at the time to see how I got there, but now it doesn't matter. I have a tool that actually works for me! I am working hard, but I'm successful! I have another 6-12 months of weight loss to go, but I'm not at all intimidated by that. That's a first! For the first time, I'm in control! And it feels darn good. I'm over 70 pounds down since January and I fully expect to be under 200 by Thanksgiving! I would like to have lost 100 pounds by 1/31/10. Even if I don't make every goal, I'm going in the right direction and THAT is enough to keep me moving!! Anyway, I was a little "rambly" today, but The Biggest Loser will do that for me. Have a great day, y'all!!

Congradulations....I am so happy for you. I started in 3/10(surgery date) at size 24 now i'm a size 16. It's is hard but not so much. I am sooooooooo proud of you. Keep up the good work and remember it's all for you first than everyone else. I hope that also inspires you.

Hi everyone! I had the lap band in 2015 and thought I would be completely different within a year. I initially started to lose weight but even at the beginning felt like I shouldn't be able to eat as much as I could. I was constantly hungry and felt like I was starving all the time. I had several adjustments and even got to the max allowement then had to have it drained because I couldn't even drink Water.. It was aweful! My heaviest weight was 289.7 and I didn't even realize it! I seen a picture of myself and had no idea who that person was. I am 5'8 and have always been told that I'm curvy and look "good" so it never occurred to me that I was actually that big since I carry my weight well. Don't get me wrong, I knew I was a big girl but still felt like I wasn't that bad. My horrible motto and cop out was, "You can fix chubby but you can't fix ugly!" How horrible right?? Smh.. Well, I had pain, brusing on my belly button and could no longer hold down real food. But let me tell you that chips and candy went down super easy. I ate the big Reece's cups everyday! I felt like a complete and total failure and started feeling like everyone who loves me was being nice to me and telling me I was beautiful because they knew my heart. I am currently 33 and was 17 when my beautiful mother died and 19 when my amazing father died. I raised my 2 brothers and 1 sister when that happened and worked 3 jobs to make sure we had a roof over our heads. I sang in a band for many years and always felt like the fat girl. I even had a miscarriage 5 years ago that devastated me to the core. I was tired, and tired of being tired. Last week, October 19th I changed my life!! I had the revision to sleeve!! Let me tell you the honest raw uncut truth... I NEVER EXPECTED THIS! My amazing, supportive fiancé got me a scale yesterday as a surprise. I almost felt like maybe my doctor didn't actually do the sleeve since I don't notice any changes. I went into surgery at 281.7 and I weighed myself this morning at 262.4!!!!! I AM IN AWE!! I go to the doctor today for a follow up and am honestly in pain (mostly super tenderness) and man oh man do I want a cheeseburger.. Lol.. But this has been all worth it! I know that if I stay focused, stay connected, stay honest and give my all.. I will have amazing results! This site has been so inspirational. I have literally been reading stuff all night!! Haha.. I had to tell everyone a part of my story and really stay accountable. Thank you for reading my extremely long story. I hope that someone out there can relate and feel encouraged. My new motto is, "Live the life that you want to live and live it well!" Bee Sent from my LGMS550 using the BariatricPal App

09/27/2010 Well, I am now officially in the "waiting stage" to see I insurance will really approve me. It seems SO SLOW!!! I called Melissa at my surgeon's office and she said she would get all the paperwork in, but that was 2 weeks ago. I know these things take time, but in the meantime, I am still "pretending" that I already got the lapband and am still writing food down in my diary, eating off smaller plates with baby utensils, and have lost well over 10 pounds in the process. However, I would really like to just get approved and get on with it. The other blogger's stories of their waits, etc. have really been helpful for me. Trying to stay pro-active!:smile:

Hi. I 'm Kelly and I am 39 years old. Today, Dec 29, 2010, is post op day 2 from my VSG with Dr Pennings in Post Falls, Id. I decided to have this surgery vs a RNY or band because I wanteed to keep "my plumbing" as natural as I could and I didn't want a foreign body inside of me for the next 40 years. My OMG weight was 309 lbs. Before starting the 10% I had to loose before the surgery I was at 292. The day of my surgery I was 258.4. So why didn't I continue with the liquid pre-op diet and loose all my weight that way? Because it is an all liquid diet. I was having alot of what I call head hunger and was getting closer and closer to giving in to it. (oh I feel like eating a chesseburger, fries and a milkshake and not the protein shakes I was suppose to be drinking or treating myself to food for losing weight!??) My biggest issue today is that I have bloating and gas. So much that I can't even drink water without belching. I just got back from the pharmacy with some Gas-X thin strips and I hope they help. I also am extreemly restless. I am not sure if that is because of the gas or from the pain, stool softners or carafate I am taking. Anyone else have this problem??

When I was banded just under a year ago, I didn't really pick a weight goal. That didn't hold any interest for me. Instead I picked a physical challenge goal: running a 5k. I did it today!!! I RAN THE WHOLE THING WITHOUT STOPPING!!! I had my best time too!!! It's only going to get better from here!! My next goals are: --making it to 100lbs loss (soon, I think!! Only 10 lbs to go) --finishing a 5k in less than 40min (today's was 42) --doing a headstand (IDK why, it just seems cool?) --getting to size L (I'm XL now) A friend invited me to do a mini-triathalon with her next April. I think I just might do it!!!!

I was banded 4 Jan 10, and I don't think I could have went through an eval like you all. Of course I am in South Korea and all I was concerned was, how much and how long does it take and finally when can we do it. Yep those were my only questions. Only pre surgery was cholesteral level was high-he prescribed some meds on 4 Dec and by 4 Jan my surgery date, my level was ok. My wife and her sister coordinated my surgery due to language barrier, but the doc's and staff do speak English-yes. One Great Doc and fabulous staff too I might add. Recently had my 4th fill, and I expected to pay but guess what--it was free, love my doc's and staff. Oh I was allowed to eat up untill 1200 mid-night the night prior to my surgery. I went with the family to OUTBACK'S and had steak and salad. MY LAST GOOD MEAL! So I thought. Even banded, one can enjoy some dining, but at a much smaller scale-like a cup here and there of one or two items. Still not bad. The band helps curb the appetitie and when restriction is evident, you know it. At one point in my journey I tested the limits and not surprized, the band won-my bad. I am now enjoying my band, I love my band, and I do weight myself every morning. If I splurge some on eating, I don't get discouraged and resort back to the basics-soups, mushies, and solids. It's all control, willingness, and determination. One Key word discribes all Journey's= PATIENCE. Be patient and don't become discouraged if weight loss does not happen-it will happen, so don't worry. Best of luck on your journey and have fun, enjoy and be happy. Your on the right track to living a fuller life. ken

I got mine at the end of January. I was ready to go in November 2009, but I had to wait for the new year for my flex med insurance to kick in. If I could have done it in November I would have! I gained 10 pounds over the holidays and if I would have had my band, I probably would've lost 10. I'm 7 months in and I've lost about 64 pounds. Go for it, girl!!

So, I have had a kidney infection, and I am taking Cipro for 7 more days. I got a call from my Surgeon's offfice this morning, and my surgery date is 9-28, so yes, I am going to be a September,10 bander. I have to see my dr. in the a.m. and I guess I will start my 2 weeks liquid thing tomorrow. Oh well, no time for a "last meal". Please keep your wonderful comments and sugestions coming. But more than anything, your prayers. If there is a prayer group on this site, I would love to know about it. I will keep you all posted. :thumbup:

I have had multiple complications since my RYGB on 7/18/16. I have had emergency kidney stone surgery, multiple hospitalizations for what was finally determined to be a marginal ulcer, and dysautonomia which is uncontrolled low blood pressure (60/40 or less). In addition I still have to vomit 2-3 times a month or more after a meal when I hurt for 2 hours & know whatever I ate won't go down. I am not complaining, but also I rarely (once every 3 months or so) have upper abdominal pain that is so intense that I can't breathe, let alone drive, walk, speak. It puts me down for 5-10 minutes and scares the hell out of my family, my patients, and my staff. The intense pain usually subsides after a few minutes of lying on my right side. The chief of the Bariatric Surgery dep't here thinks I'm having temporary small bowel intussusception. I know I don't have an internal hernia as my RYGB surgeon was very careful about that. Usually intussusception advances to bowel death requiring surgery, but mine resolves after a few minutes in the right position. Has anyone else experienced this?

I was sleeved in December. Haven't been heavy my whole life and started at a pretty low BMI. My daughter on the other hand, is pretty heavy. She's 19 year old college student and just got approved for surgery! She's 5 hours away, so we're scheduling surgery for Christmas break when she'll be home six weeks. Is that enough time for her to recover or should we wait until next summer? She has a dorm that has a full kitchen and private bath so I'm hoping I can help her get set with all she needs there too. How soon after RNY did you start feeling better? Are we moving too fast?

Let your Haters be your Motivaters! Trust me... My sex life was already steamy but not... Whew! It's on and POP'n like it was during the time we first started dating... And my clothes... I hated those fat girl shirts that tie in the back.. now I'm rocking the Jr's. I even went shopping at Forever 21, and Rue 21 and picked up a few sexy panties from Vicky Secrets... ~Leticia **HW: 259**PreOp: 216**SURG: 3/21/13 **Discharged @: 221** 4.5 mons post op. CW: 160.0 lbs. --- Only 10 lbs to my goal ---

:scared2::smile2:There is plenty of time! If we have nothing else, we have time and it is on our side! I have said this before, but after reading a little bit about TIME, I am starting to see and feel it differently. TIME is both an enemy and a friend. At my age and I will tell you, I am 58. I see time slipping away fast, but there is so much happening in my life right now, it is good but it is on ZOOM AWAY! Tomorrow I will have grandchild number 5! A little boy named Michael Wesley, Michael after his daddy, my firstborn son. He is already over 8 lbs! So a big boy. Then next Monday, my 6th grandchild a little girl by my oldest daughter and her name is Ava Danielle, she is only 6 lbs now. Then on 10-10-10 my youngest daughter will be married. My life and the times of my life are so very blessed. I am thankful, I will look nice in the wedding photos, and my grandchildren will be proud to have me play with them and be active during my life with them. Better memories will be made because time has changed my life. You do your best to conquer time, and yet it continually slips through your fingers. You measure your life, your successes, and your productivity in terms of minutes, hours, days and weeks. You often lost your hope in the future and in the fullfillment of your dreams as time passes. God isn't subject to our concept of TIME. He is the Master of the Universe. When you place your trust in him, you can know with certainty that you have all the TIME to do what he has created you to to and that you have plenty of time to become just that. YOUR BRIGHTEST HOUR IS ALWAYS AHEAD, NEVER BEHIND! PSALMS 31:14-15 NCV LORD I TRUST YOU. I HAVE SAID, YOU ARE MY GOD! MY LIFE IS IN YOUR HANDS.:sleep:

Well I have six little pounds to go to get to my goal weight for my daughters wedding! Tried to lose 10 lbs. but now I am down four. Working on the wedding stuff is keeping me very busy and all these babies (grandbabies) coming. I am on the go a lot. We got baby Michael Wesley last night! 8 lbs, l oz, 21 inches long, he is a little doll with a head full of hair! Now one more is on the way our little Ava Danielle, my oldest daughter is expecting and ready to go by next weekend. I have five weeks left before my youngest daughters wedding and two flower girl dresses left to make, NO PRESSURE! Everything to check and re-check. Meeting with the cake lady on Thursday again. That cake is going to be good! Blueberry flavored fondant on one layer, Orange flavored on the rest, will post photos later. Have a great day all, God Bless You.:tt2:

I see all of yous are about week or less post-op.. Congrats to all!!! I'm 14 weeks post-op almost 4 months my first week was the roughest! But it does get better everyday...I started to feel better too once I got to purée foods.. The liquid stage I was hungry all the time! But it does get better. I was sleeved 10/9/12..since October 1 I've lost 49 lbs but with pre op. diet I've lost a total of 82lbs... And as much pain I was in that first week was totally worth it!!! I started at 300 and I'm 218 this morning!! But think positive and welcome to the losers bench!!!! Happy loosing!

I've found that not getting hung up on sizes -- like the number on the scale -- helps keep me more sane. Not that I can avoid the insanity. Guilty as charged. Sizes are insanity. It varies by style/designer. Clothing makers have supposedly made regular sizes larger in recent years because our "evolution" has made our overall proportions larger. So a size 14 today may not be the same as a size 14 five years ago. Because I have some muscle weight, I've always tended to wear bigger sizes. Anyway, to answer your question -- I'm 210 and wear everything from a size 16 to a 20. L to 1X. I think I actually have a blazer that's a size 14. Go figure. Elizabeth 8.28.03 -60 +10 and holding since unfilled 6/21 because of slippage (for net of -50)

I didn't have the same experience, though I was able to find Dr Ben- Meir at Lake health ( lake west and Tripoint hospitals). I actually went through to the end at st Vincent's and had my surgery date if 08/12 when I found him and decided to switch. My new date is 10/14 and I'm so happy to have found him- he had great stats- over 4000 surgeries and never a leak! He left at the end of may and Lake Health was late in getting out his info on the Internet. He wouldn't have been able to take any patient info with him and they were not able to tell us where he went! Hope things are going well for you at CC. Did you get a date yet?

I am glad I caught this thread. Cc is an option under my insurance but I am in another state. Having my band removed after 10 years and I am not getting a good feeling about the locals in Chicago. I just think I need to be in the BEST hands, I was thinking that CC would be an option that I would feel comfortable with. Did any of you also have a band removed? Is there reason to NOT go toCC?

Hello! I have my first appointment with Dr. Ghiassi this coming week. I'm pretty excited! Dr. Boone did my fathers surgery about 10 years ago and has absolutely loved the support he's gotten from the staff all these years

Hi everyone, My surgery date is 10/4 and I'll need to start my pre-op diet on 9/20. My surgeon wants me to do a low carb diet (under 40g per day). What is everyone else needing to do? Is anyone else nervous about this? I've never done a low carb diet (did WW back in the day...never Atkins)... I've researched and know what I need to do, but I'm nervous that I won't lose the weight or shrink my liver as much as they want. If I follow the surgeon's instructions I should be fine right?

I feel the same way! I'm only 10 days out though. I've been back at work for 3 days and I'm dragging. I'm not hurting at all which seems weird but I am exhausted. Thanks for posting these responses. Maybe we are expecting too much of ourselves too early.