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I am through Kaiser and finally going to meet the surgeon for a consult I wonder how much longer before surgery. I only lost 5% of our weight and not the 10% they told us Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I am at 10 days out of VSG surgery and 8 days out of an ulcer repair surgery, and I still feel kinda bad. I have been running low grade temps., but thought I was done with that as of yesterday. Well tonite I have hit 100 degrees. I have taken my tylenol and yes I plan on going to the doc first thing in the morning. My questions is......Has anyone else been through this? My stomach still feels sore on the inside and even my back hurts on my left side. Any comparisons would be appriciated.

You know I think one of the problems for all of us is that there is no one way to respond to this surgery! Some people sail through with little pain, and are bopping around in no time- others are really lid low for a while and are much slower to move forward. Some can drink fluids etc. with o problem, others really have trouble getting the fluids in for the first few weeks or longer. However- I think fever is a warning sign and you are right to see your doctor. Just today our daily poster Crosswind was found to have a double ear infection 19 days out- she had felt wonky and had also had a low fever now and again.

Well, this is my first posting. I was banded Thursday 4/6/06 after a year of researching. I am now a BMI of 29 (was 31 last week). I am very glad of the questions and answers on this site as I am sure I will have many and at least now I know where to go to find the answer. First question, as I am in 1 week post op, can I have sugar free fudgesicle or will this cause enlargement as well. Is this really a liquid if eaten prpewrly? I have hung tight to broth and jello and apple juice, but was getting sick of that and needed a little something. Also, should I still have shoulder pain? I am taking tylenol but about every 6 hours it comes back. Nothing too bad just alarming. I am also walking treadmill at lowest .09 (lol) speed about 4 times a day for 5-10 minutes. I appreciate any and all answers, this was a scary but positive step for me. Godd luck and God Bless all of you....

I have only posted on here a couple of times so I know most of you don't know me. My name is Amber and I am having lap-band surgery next Wednsday. I am excited but getting a little scared. I guess mostly I am scared of failure because I am on this 10 day pre-op diet and tonight had such strong cravings and hunger pangs. I allowed myself to cheat (just a very small peice of lean chicken breast) and I feel so guilty about it. I keep telling myself if I can cheat like this now then what about after the surgery when swelling has went down and I am just before having a fill. Will I be able to keep from gaining weight back that I have lost in the liquid phase? I am so very scared of failure especially since we are paying out of our own pockets for this. Don't get me wrong I am very excited as well just having some of those "pre-surgery gitters" you all talk about. I have done very well on this diet until today when I cheated a little tonight. I suppose I shouldn't beat myself up about it. Does anyone on here ever get so overwhelmed by how much weight they have to lose? I just had my first child (one of the reasons for wanting to get healthy) almost seven months ago and after having him I lost thirty lbs weighing about 250lbs. Since then I have gained 30lbs although not changing my eating habbits, and still this gain. I did find out however, that I have a VERY VERY underactive thyroid for which I am now on medication (have been for almost a month now). I just wish I hadn't gained that thirty lbs because it is going to be so hard to lose. Gosh I am so glad there is a board like this that I can use to vent. I really appreciate anyone who reads this post. I know you guys hear a lot of what I am saying over and over so thanks again.

I learned a lesson last night - don't let yourself get too hungry! Here is the story: I get home and just wasn't hungry, we were headed out the door by 6:30 to go to a meeting, our meeting was over at 9:00, we get home at 9:15 pm and I'm starvin'. So, I make myself a few shrimp, that didn't help, I grab some chips and make myself about 5 or 6 chips with some cheese on it and it kepts going from there, I don't even remember everything I ate. I just remember grabbing different things trying to satisfy my hunger. I just felt like anything I ate was not filling me up. Moral of the story - eat something if you know it will be awhile before you can eat. I should have had something small before I left for the meeting. Some almonds perhaps, maybe a protein bar, something instead of letting myself get too hungry. I learned my lesson! I didn't get to exercise last night because of the metting so I took last night off. But......Tonight - It's on! Right after my "Biggest Loser" show, I will be headed to the gym for an hour of circuit training/working the upper body and cardio at the same time. Weight - didn't weigh this morning - just didn't want to face the scales after my late night eating. I was surprised that I didn't have any reflux. Usually if I eat that late, I'm up all night with reflux. I think I've losened up quite a bit again. But my band flucuates so much, I think I will monitor it the next few weeks and see if it gets tighter again. I really thought this last fill would last me - but now, once again, I'm wondering? I'm thinking also that I will never have that tight restriction everyone talks about. Don't get me wrong, I've got restriction, I can feel it, its just not as tight as I would like it. I would like the band to FORCE me to take small bites, to FORCE me not to eat bread, to FORCE me to chew, chew and chew. However, none of this happens for me. I eat regular bites of food, I can eat bread (but I chose to stay away from it), and I chew like I did before the band. I will say every now and then the band gives me a reminder that it is there and I think, Oh, I better slow down. But for the most part, I forget its there. I have found there is only one thing I can't eat - Hamburgers! No matter how small of bites, no matter, how slow, no matter what, it gets stuck. I have given up on ever eating a hamburger again, and I'm fine with that - they are loaded with fat and calories, so thank you my little silacone buddy for forcing me NOT to eat Hamburgers! If this is it for me, if this is the most restriction I can get, then I'm okay with that too. I know that this restriction will keep me from gaining all my weight back. I do get full on a lot less food than I used to eat, so for that, I'm thankful. I just read about so many bandsters talking about how they can't eat this, or that, and how they have to slow down and chew chew chew or they PB.....I've only experienced this a limited amount of time, and that is usually right after a fill. It last a day, sometimes 2 weeks, and it has lasted a month before, but it always leaves. PBing is something I rarely, if ever do. I can't even remember the last time I PB'd. I'm losing count on how many fills I've had. I keep it updated in my journal so I can remember, but I thinks it like 16 now, or maybe even 17. It makes me wonder if I really do have a leak? My doc has tested it and says I don't. Speaking of doc, I go see my band doc tomorrow. He just wants to see how I'm doing after almost 3 years with the band. I think I will talk to him about this and see what he thinks. Okay, I guess I've written enough in my book now, so I better get to work.........:confused:

I had my surgery on November 19, 2008 and I just had my first fill yesterday January 5! The hunger part will get easier! Just hand in there!!

Nine months Wow what can I say but this LB Journey has been BETTER than any amusement park feeling my insurance could buy!! A lot can happen in 9 months. I lost the weight of a small child or young adult for that matter 97 pounds. Wow I FEEL AND LOOK SO DIFFERENT! I was banded on June 29, 2009. One month early to my surprise. I had all the pre-op work done and I was just doing my job of reading everything I could about LAP-BAND®. I was making sure I was an expert on the subject before I even got banded, Ha Ha LOL I knew absolutely nothing!!! That was of REAL importance to me and my amazing journey. YOU WILL LEARN DAILY!! All I knew was eat slow, chew your food well and PROTEIN first and fit all the water and liquids in you can but NOT with a meal. Let me just say there is way more than just this. I set some goals back in the day, now I will look back at my older blog and see what I have accomplished? My biggest goal was to go skiing this winter and I did about 10 times I did well and it was just like riding a bike it all comes back to you. I rode a bike too that is so much fun!!! I want to dance. Yes. I have been Dancing and it is so fun! I want to eat normal. Yes, I eat way normal! EAT FOOD. NOT TOO MUCH. MOSLTY PLANTS. I want to think normal. Yes, I think normal! I want to look normal. Yes, I look normal! I want to FEEL normal. Yes I FEEL normal! I want to see myself as NORMAL. Yes, I look at myself and I see normal! I want to feel sexy again. Yes, I feel sexy again! I want to look sexy again. Ok, I am working on it...... I want to buy clothes off the rack. Yes, I can buy off the rack! I want those clothes to FIT me. Yes, clothes fit me I am a size 12 / 14. I want to be looked at, not look through. Yes, people talk to me now and look at me! I want to be successful. Yes, I feel and I am successful! I want off blood pressure medicine. Yes, I am NOW OFF all Medicine! Yippee. I want off my sleep apnea machine. Yes, I am off my apnea machine! Yippee. I want my normal body back, the one I had when I met my husband. I am Working on it. I was NORMAL I DO remember how it feels. Yes, I must say I FEEL NORMAL again Thanks to my LAP-BAND® I HAVE FORGIVEN MYSELF. MANY TIMES I was invited to speak to a group of newbies and there were about 50 people with many questions. I was with a young man who had GBPS and was at his goal. I am not at goal yet but have been successful on my journey and work well with my band. I was able the thank my Doctors and give back to the program that has given so much me. Wishing you and all my FRIENDS the best on your journey. I am still learning everyday. imaluckydog

i was banded on 10/31/06 Lost weight, gained it back, do to the fault of poor aftercare.... I found a new surgeon, they put me under Fluoroscopy, and we are now rolling. I also journal my diet, and exercise. I hope you gave yourself a calorie limit to follow, and stick with it, and if it's to high then yep you can cut back in different foods. Some stuff goes a long way. Also look for another surgeon, and get checked out. They will also give you new guidelines.

No I wouldn't use that... I also have been taking phentermine for years on and off!!! EHP will try to find anything to deny you... They don't want to spent the money... I explained to the president of the hospital that I've been an employee for almost 10 years and it's unfair, that they were treating that way... Do u work at hopkins or bayview

The first few weeks post op I was in alot of pain and also not in the best mood. I had a drain placed so I had to nurse that for about 10 bdays before it was removed. I started to feel better and like normal around 1 month post op. I think pain can colour your experience greatly. I ate very little and only the items allowed, I wasn't that interested in the foods in the weird phases, when I got back to regular foods (final phase) I was more hopeful and cooked the things I liked but made them the healthiest versions possible. Game changer for me. Try to avoid breaking the protocol of your diet, instead ask your team if you can excelerate the stages. If not take it for what it's worth and soon enough you will be back to whole foods and feeling better. Safe Journey!

I have always struggled from Halloween thru New Year's - gaining about 10 lbs then having to make my New Year's Resolution to lose that 10 lbs plus try to lose what I still have on me.... Read my blog post about my 1st year being banded and tell me your stories... http://www.debbieposton.com/how-did-you-handle-the-holidays/

Hi Bansters, I am seriously considering getting banded. One area of concern/question is what happens 3,5 10 years out? Once you reach your goal weight do you loosen up the band? Do you eat different? Does life change (from a food intake perspective) once you have reached the goal weight? If so how? I don't see these questions being discussed too much here. It seems like this forum is a place to come when your in the process, but once your "done" you stop talking about it. I hope to hear from some long time vets! Thanks Archer

I am almost 2 years out now, but I can tell you that I have changed my life. I did get an unfill after hitting goal. I look at food very differently now, and it is about eating for life, not eating to live. I know the calorie count of just about everything I eat. I like it that way. I holpe it continues 10 years from now... I am still here for the friends and support. I know really at any point I could fall off the wagon.

No real tips, because it looks like you're doing things right. However, I wonder if you're not just at a weight where you spent a lot of time before? Also, are your clothes getting looser and are your measurements changing? I've been "stuck" for about 3 weeks, but I know I spent nearly 10 years at the weight I'm at right now, so I expected this plateau. I've been almost literally watching my body change in the last 3 weeks, though. I have lost 2 pants sizes, gained muscle in certain areas and even discovered a couple of bones that I had forgotten about! Just keep working your plan and the weight will come off. I think we're both out of the honeymoon period where it gets tougher to lose weight and we have to work harder...and it sounds like you are working hard!

19 pounds I lost were pre-op from going on the liquid diet. For some reason my body responded really well to the liquid diet. I was on it for 2 1/2 weeks and prior to that I started watching what I ate. Since I've been banded I eat alot less. Breakfast M - F is Carnation instant breakfast with skim milk, 1 packet and 2 servings of milk. That tides me over until lunch. Lunch is either a sandwich and a piece of fruit or a lean cuisine and a piece of fruit. dinner is whatever I decide to cook. Grilled chicken and steamed veggies (love those steam fresh bags) or whatever else I decide to make for dinner. MOnday through Friday I pretty much eat healthy and stick to everything but come the weekend if I want to have a piece of cake or something I do. I make sure I still eat 3 meals a day at least 2 of them healthy but I definitely don't eat junk food all day anymore. I struggle with every pound I lose and I've only been losing 1-2 lbs a week since I got banded. I've evercise about 2-4 nights a week. Lately i've been doing 3-4 nites a week for an hour long each time. That's all i've been doing.

I'm 34 and everyone says I look 10 years younger!! Loving it!!!

HW 298 SW: 252 on 10/28/15 2 week app: 245 6 week app: 230

I had my surgery on 1-19 and attended a 3 day convention 2-1. Packed my protein drinks and did fine. I wasn't able to stay out late as I still tired easily. But was able to enjoy the covention. Brenda

Hi all, I'm newly banded, banded in august! I was so disappointed with my one pound weightloss over the past 10 days! So silly of me to think this way, but I was hoping for more, I was blinded by how quickly the initial weight came off, but at least I kept losing and didn't gain!!! Since my weight slowed down with that one pound loss, I got my first fill yesterday :smile: I have this lump in my throat feeling, not too sure if that's how it's supposed to feel. I was having some greek yogurt this morning and I can't even make a dent in it. I enjoyed the fill because I feel rejuvenated with my process. I'm feeling motivated to shed more pounds and even did a 2.5 mile walk yesterday! Before, I was only averaging about a mile. Hopefully with this spike in exercise, the fill, and motivation.............I can jump start my weight loss again to reach that new year goal !!! Wish me luck and good luck to everyone feeling like they are in a slump! You can do it!!!

After trying years of diets and yo-yoing up 5-10 pounds each time, I decided to go with the Lap Band device. I went through the pre-surgical testing and got my insurance company to approve it upon my first appeal and an additional six-month waiting period. In that time I dropped from 380 pounds down to 360 (which was my pre-surgery goal) and on Valentine's Day in 2008 I got the surgery. I was in at 7 am, and home in my recliner by 5 pm. The abdominal pain was absolutely minimal. I was able to get out of bed and walk within the first hour, and was voiding my bladder and cruising the hallways soon thereafter. I refused the morphine they were offering as I wanted to go home, and honestly there was no need for it as I was in minimal discomfort. Once home I quickly adjusted to the phase-one diet and ate the clear liquids and developed an affinity for nice cool Jell-o (lime or orange). I no longer experienced "hunger" as I once did. Even though I knew I hadn't eaten but a handful of calories in any given day, I did not feel "hunger". As I approached phase-two I began to develop some "cravings" which after discussing with my nutritionist I found to be a healthy response to the surgery--a way for your body to tell you what you're needing. I don't even question it when my body tells me that raw calf's liver would be SOOOO good right now. I just do it. Once onto phase-three and normal life I began to feel better about myself as I (rapidly) dropped weight. Within 12 months I had dropped nearly 100 pounds, 3 trouser sizes, two inches from my neck, 2 shirt sizes (from a XXXL-Tall to a XXL) and amazingly--TWO shoe sizes--I once wore a 14 and can now fit a 12 comfortably. My knees stopped making horrible grinding noises, my hips stopped hurting and I found I had more energy to tackle my tasks with. To make myself feel even better I once loaded 100 boxes of butter (sorry Safeway) into a cart just to see the physical quantity of weight I had lost. Likewise--I have thrown a pair of 40 pound bags of dog food on my shoulders to experience just SOME of what I was carrying around. It makes all the difference in the world when you still perceive yourself as a "fat man" to look at some tangible facsimiles of your achievements. Now--about my device, my post-op life and the joys of living with the Lap Band: I received an "AP Standard" device in lieu of the "AP Large." My surgeon has never been able to give me a reason why other that "I have never used an AP Large device and didn't feel comfortable doing so here." Initially I thought this was a bonus as I would lose weight a little mroe rapidly. What I did NOT know whas what to expect in the process. Yes, I went to ALL of my classes, nutritional counseling, etc. Yes, I understand fully how to eat. NO! I did not sign on for this. Each bite of food I take--regardless of how I chew, registers somewhere in the 7 range on the pain scale. Even water--is about a 5 for 10-15 minutes after I swallow. The surgeons (I have multiple) have all scoped me, barium'd me, fluoroscope'd, swallow studied, etc me to no end. There is no slippage, no obstruction, no swelling, and no redness. Only "An extremely small pouch with very tight restriction." During my first adjustment (more on that later) my surgeon primed my device and in doing so, completely closed my esophagus and rocketed me into a vasovaglic episode. Since that time I have had ZERO Fluid in my device--not a single CC in the bladder, not even a drop of saline to prime it. Of course in order to make sure of this, each surgeon has to attempt to drain it again--so I got very used to being adjusted. As long as your surgeon is competent (NOT like Colin MacColl) you don't even need any of that local anesthetic-stuff. None at all. It's just more needle-sticks and to tell you the honest truth--the "big" adjusting needle doesn't hurt AT ALL. If you'd like to see what it's all about, go to YouTube and search "POV LapBand" and you'll see Colin MacColl failing miserably and repeatedly at accessing my (very easy) port. While this particular procedure was uncomfortable for me (as evidenced by my toes in the video...) it was NOT painful and I had zero anesthetic. When I finally grew tired of a life in pain and constant medical testing with no results I accused one of my surgeons (Colin MacColl) of practicing "diagnostic medicine" on me and demanded that he do something other than shrugging and saying "Let's try this." The next week I received a letter informing me that I was "fired" as a patient of Oregon Bariatric and would have to seek a new doctor. In the end--I am now 18 months post-op, sitting at 235 pounds (down 155 pounds) with an un-regulated and completely un-restricted device. I have no surgeon/bariatric doctor. I am hypoglycemic, I have 3 major Vitamin deficiencies, I vomit at least twice a day, I eat less than 200 food-calories in any given 24 hour period and when I do I am down-and-out-in-pain for a good 90 minutes after I eat it--IF I can keep it down without vomiting. Am I happy being the "new-man?" Hell yes! It's GREAT being "Skinny(er)." Would I recommend the Lap Band procedure to anyone? HELL NO! Looking forward to talking with you all. Cheers!

I've stopped worrying about what the other people are thinking of me and I started watching other people. I go to planet fitness (the judgement free zone) and there really is a difference from other gyms. They are friendly and leave you alone unless you ask for help. Anyway, I watch the eye candy. I happen to live by a college campus so lots of college kids go there and I happen to be that age so I look at the girls who have the body I want and it keeps me going for another minute or 5 or 20. Though if anyone was watching me watch them, they would swear I was a lesbian. And I watch the men well... because it's so damn fun. Good eye candy can be a great distraction. Before you know it, 10 mins have passed by. I bought a MP3 player and made my own workout set of songs that will give me inspiration. I happen to love reggeton latin music (though I don't speak spanish) and fast upbeat songs that make me want to dance. Songs with a good beat are great to walk to. I felt nervous when I first join until I saw a guy walk in who easily weight 400-450+ lbs and not a single person turn to watch, no one stared, or made a comment and I thought if he can do it, so can I.

I just wanted to give a shout out to everyone who is trying to lose weight. I would also like for them to think about setting non-scale victories (NSV), such as getting into a new outfit, being able to ride the roller coasters, or getting the confidence to do new things. I think it is good to have an NSV because it gives you something else to focus on other then that damn scale number, which doesn’t always count because sometimes I don’t lose anything but inches. For those of you that are just starting to lose weight, please don’t lose faith because you will reach your goal. Some people lose really fast or non-stop and others only lose a couple of pounds a month. I had a goal in mind and thought I would not be happy until I reached it, but I was wrong. I am finally at a weight that I feel comfortable. My health is good and I feel like I can run a marathon. Don’t get me wrong, I am still overweight and need to lose about 50+ pounds. I was just wrong about how far away that light was at the end of the tunnel, and I hope you will find out that your happiness may come sooner then you think. For the first time in my life, I don’t want to stay home (which sucks with the current gas prices). However, since I never went out before I am not sure what I want to do or where to go, but I am so comfortable that I am finally trying to get out and meet people more, especially since some of my old friends don’t seem to feel comfortable around me now that I have lost weight and they haven’t. My new found confidence has also allowed me to apply for a management job (which I should hear about by the middle of June so keep your fingers crossed). If I don’t get that job, I am also considering just moving to a new city (probably Atlanta) and making a fresh start. I guess sometimes you just have to take risks, the first of which for me was having surgery. It is the first day of June and my goal for this month is to lose 10 lbs. I am not sure if I will reach that goal, but it is worth trying and I think it is possible. I think it helps to set small goals and try for them rather then focus on the final goal. It helps that I have pretty much maintained my weight over the past couple of weeks and my body seems like it is ready to begin moving forward again. I think the more weight I lose the more confident and free I will feel to do just about anything. I would love to go white water rafting one day, yeah I know I am crazy, but aren’t we all just a little. I’ll keep ya posted on my progress. ~Think Positive and Stay Healthy~

Congratulations on your new date. Also congratulations on losing 50 lbs. Way to go! You already are a lot healthier with your 50 lb weight loss. You'll be even more healthy once you get the band and lose even more weight. I'm a few days in front of you. My surgery is this Friday, 9/17/10, just 2 days away! I'm nervous and exciting! Your surgery date is right around the corner, too. Best of luck to you!