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I've lost about 20 pounds since my weigh-in 2 days before surgery. My surgery date was June 10, so you are doing quite well, even though you don't think so. My BMI was in the 38 range, so I do think my weight loss is slow, but at least I am losing weight. Of course my stomach has been a mess since the beginning and I've been in the ER with a UTI and have been working on antibiotics that kept me from eating, but that didn't help with the weight loss. Look for the positives, i.e., you are finished with the surgery and aren't gaining... Also, you will have a healthier lifestyle from now on. Terrie

I think everyone loses weight at a different rate. It depends on somewhat on your starting weight. Just make sure you are eating healthy and focus on protein and fluids first, low carbs. Go by Dr. Recommendations and exercise! You will do great.

I'm so excited for you! This is a big step, but worth it. I did not use any of the items I brought with me in the hospital, except the clothes to wear home. Hospital provides, basic care supplies and you will most likely just want to sleep or rest. Some suggested a notebook & pen for notes or journal, gas x strips, and ear plugs. The one thing I did not have when I got home was an old fashion night gown with no waist. My husband went & got 2 for me and that saved me! Couldn't handle anything around my waist for a week. Everyone is different though, but at least make sure you have comfy pants and tops for the first few weeks. Also I wouldn't leave the hospital without a prescription for nausea that dissolves under you tongue. Be prepared for an emotional ride the first 2 to 3 weeks, they feel like a roller-coaster, but it does get better as you heal and become more mobile. Make sure you have little 1 and 2 oz containers and cocktail size utensils at home. Also Lipton cup cream of chicken soup and chicken stock (not broth) to make it with, it adds protein and goes down well. It's a nice change from protein shakes also. You should read frequently asked questions in the pre-op forum section too. I've learned since my sleeve a month ago, that the only thing that has changed is the size of my stomach. It doesn't change food craving, choice of food we eat, what food triggers we have, our habits, or how much we exercise. We get full fast and that helps, will lose some weight no matter what, but all the rest we still have to work towards changing ourselves. We can do it though! I wish you all the best in your journey.

I haven't had any complications with the band. I have gained some weight back lately, but it was due to my own problems and had nothing to do with the band. I had gotten down to 192.4 and now I am back up to 207 :rolleyes2: it wasn't the fault of the band...it was just me. The only "problem" I had was when I went in for my first fill they had some trouble finding it and had to wiggle the needle around a little bit (doesn't really hurt, just felt weird) other than that things have been great!!!

I'm six weeks post-op and won't be cleared for weights until 3 months out. At that point I can start with light weights and progress slowly. I am finding this a bit frustrating since I did Cross Fit before the surgery and could dead lift 150 pounds (not bad for an old woman). I'm doing cardio in the meantime, but I find it very borning. What's everyone else doing?

When you start feeling down, find something that is the weight of what you have lost & try to pick it up. You will realize just how much you have accomplished. 20 pounds in such a short time is amazing!!!! I was told to expect 10 pounds per month the first few months and then it would taper down to 5 or less a month. Pre-surgery, would you have been disappointed in that? Probably not. So, don't allow yourself to feel down. (I know I did & it was a waste of energy.) You CAN and WILL do this!

Way to go!!! Be proud for taking these steps! They're bigs ones :thumbdown:. I am so excited for you and I hope that your journey to getting the band goes well! If you have any questions I'm always around Good luck and congrats again on taking the steps! I am close to your weight and what not. I was close to 300 (I'm 5'3'') right before my surgery I was at 253.6! It's worth it!

Hi Joe! I just met a bandster who is an EMT recently. He was taking about three weeks off but after that expected to go back to work full-force. My doc's instructions about exercise and strenuous work are basically that by the time you'll feel like doing it you'll be healed enough and it won't be a problem. Laying on your side/stomach is just a matter of time and healing. I sleep on my left (port) side all the time and while I can feel it there is no discomfort at all. The only time it might be a problem is if you're laying down on a hard surface, but then you could just shift around a little till it's comfortable. By the time you've lost lots of weight you'll be more concerned about your bones sticking out than your port! The port is not at all obvious under my skin, but I have a ways to go yet. If it ever becomes a problem I know there is a smaller port that can be installed, a "low-profile" port. But that would involve another scar so I'm probably not ever going to go there. Of course it's possible to "eat around" the band. Calories are calories, and if you take in too many you won't lose or may even gain. The band makes it MUCH easier, though, to eat healthfully and in appropriate portions. That's really all there is to it. And IMO, the band is perfect for anyone who wants to lose weight and who isn't in immediate need of results. If the patient is willing to see the pounds come off at a measured pace of 5-10 lbs a month, banding is the answer. Measure that pace of weight loss against the risk of complications with other surgeries, and you'll see why we picked the one we did. Good luck, to both you and your mom!

I have that fear, it's my second biggest fear (first being surgical complications). Also, of everyone I've known to have bypass personally, none have lost significant weight. I understand ita how you work it that determines success. And I don't know these people so intimately that I could say if it's their fault or the surgery.... How I cope... I go in my hole and do me. I focus on what the doc/nut set for me and forget everyone else's progress, comments and suggestions. I work based on the truths I know about what's good for me and my body.

I'm still pre-op and have that fear every single day. I've been on so many diets where other people stuck with it and lost weight, and I always caved in after some amount of time. What if I can't stick to this either? But, I keep hoping that this will finally be the key. I do know it's only a tool, by itself it won't work long term. And I'm doing everything I can now to be successful afterward but I am still afraid.

OM MY GOSH!!!! MY BMI IS NORMAL!!! I JUST REALIZED I AM A NORMAL WEIGHT!!! THIS IS AMAZING!!! :Banane59:

Hello! Thanks Kittyforet! I live in the Killeen/ Ft. Hood area. Congrats on your weight lose as well. quote name='kittyforet' timestamp='1310130423' post='1637063'] Welcome to LBT Tiffany!!! Your progress is great!! Congrats!!! I'm mom to 2 boys 8 and 10 and a girl 4. Banded June 20, 2011. I'm in the Houston area...where are you? Again, welcome and congrats!!! kristi

Researchers from the University of Western Australia are seeking volunteers to participate in a trial investigating the possibility of psychological treatment enhancing weight loss among those who have undergone Lap-Band surgery. We are offering individuals the opportunity to participate in a psychological treatment programme which will be run over 3 months and be provided free of charge. Those agreeing to participate must be willing to either receive psychological treatment or continue standard medical care, as they are unable to choose which treatment they are allocated. If you have undergone Lap-Band surgery, aged between 18 and 65 years old and are able to attend UWA in Nedlands for regular treatment, please contact Dr Emma Dove for more information on 9224 0341. This study has been approved by the UWA Ethics Committee.

I look forward to giving the Couch to 5K plan a try. At what weight do you think running won't hurt the knees? I still have 2 weeks before I can do anything more than walking. I'm sooooo looking forward to Kickboxing and maybe some Zumba.

I have taken the past several months before my surgery (November 2011) to really focus on me and get in the habit of exercising and eating better when I wait for the 6 month insurance required waiting period. I hit a huge milestone this morning that I have to share. I stepped on the scale and it read 299.7. I stepped off and got on again and it still read 299.7. Was I really finally under 300lbs??? I have not been under 300lbs in about 10 years. I stood, looking in the mirror watching the tears of joy run down my face. I felt proud and excited. I cannot wait to feel many more of these moments as the weight continues to come off. I hope to lose another 10lbs before my surgery mid November.

Thank you everyone! I cannot BELIEVE how much weight you have lost! Am working on that will, btw. Wow, I can't wait! Dang passport card is taking too long! You have no idea what your encouragement means to me. My size 2 friends think I'm insane and too lazy to get a trainer.

I was at my parents last night, and they are doing weight watchers and we made something like that. It was eggs, cottage cheese, cheddar, turkey bacon and scallions. It was alright, I liked the idea, but didn't come out as good as I would of liked.

Funny you should ask because today I was realy hungry for the first time in a while. I only had yogurt for breakfast and around 3pm I could hear my stomache growling-I was really hungry. I remember thinking that is was weird because I usually don't get hungry. In the beginning stages (prior to a good fill) you may feel hungry more often and that is completely normal. Yes, you can eat around the band because ice cream, candy, etc. seem to go down real easy-but if you eat proetins first it will curb the urges. I saw a teacher I work with and I always thought she had surgery-she had lost a lot of weight-but I noticed that she is putting in back on. That's where having the option of getting a fill is awesome. People who get gastic bypass don't have that option at later stages, That's why I love the band-there is an adjustment option that other surgeries simply don' have.

I have had lupus for over 30 years. I am over 50 years old and I am considered high risk. My surgery went well and I am losing weight rapidly. I was wondering if anyone here has lupus or any other autoimmune disease to deal with while going through this sleeve process. How are you doing with taking your medications and dealing with the fatigue. I have never had trouble with my meds until after the surgery (Feb 25, 2015). I always took my bedtime meds on an empty stomach, but find that now, I must have a few bites of food or some thick Protein drink on my stomach before I take them or my stomach hurts and spasms all night. I am wondering how someone who is maybe a year or so out from surgery is feeling now and have your lupus symptoms lessened.

Hi Jamie, that happens to a lot of people. It happened to me too, I have since started loosing again. I think there are a lot of factors that contribute to the plateau. First is that yo body is adjusting to the new way you are eating and is now conserving energy. Do you get cold easier now? My body temperature has been running around 96 degrees so my body is conserving emery that way. Also a a lot of the weight we loose in the first few weeks is water weight because we are drinking so much, then when we star eating food we gain some of that back, especially if you like salt. Also watch for constipation, that can make it seem like you aren't losing. What to do then? Make sure you journal all you food on a site like livestrong.com so you can watch you sodium and protein intake and log your water. If you aren't exercising, start as long as your doctor approves. You should at least be able to walk. Yo cat track that as well on livestrong.com. Once you body quits freaking out over the cut in calories the scale will start to move again.

Hi all! I am going to go speak to my primary care physician this Tuesday about lap band surgery. My background: 30 year old female low blood pressure low cholesterol 5'9 and 275 lbs depression documented over the years due to weight fluctuations out of breath when going up one flight of stairs (embarrassing!) I was an athletic kid all growing up, then grad school I started packing on the pounds doing stress eating. I'm still in a stressful profession and I haven't lost the weight. I just yo yo diet. I walk in the evenings but when I'm done I just start eating when I get back. I think the Lap Band may force me to take this all seriously. I want to get to 160 eventually. I'm looking for any tips in dealing with United HealthCare, how to approach my physician, referrals of doctors in the DFW area, and how to go about this with only my husband knowing (do not want work to find out, parents, etc.) Hoping to meet and talk to you all further! FortWorth

Hi Carlie - Don't be so hard on yourself. Appreciate that most of the newbies on this site would think - if they weighed 180 - that they had died and gone to heaven. Thats why its called "OnederLand". The great news is that your body is set up to help you loose weight AND your mental state is that you have realized that there is a problem and YOU want to control it, not let it control you. So, reset your mind to back when you were sleeved, and do all the right things you did then. Don't worry about the past or yesterday - you can't change that. But, YOU are in complete control of what happens today and tomorrow. -RC-

ok, so everything went well yesterday, saw the psychologist, dietitian, PA, and a few other people. the dietitian told me that i should start getting 70g of protein now, and though i don't necessarily have to lose before the surgery, i should not be gaining more weight at this point. she helped me come up with a couple of goals for now about eating and exercising--started the eating part today, exercise starts monday after work. now i have to get the official referral from my PCP, wait to be scheduled for a pulmonary function test, which is supposed to only take 10 minutes, and i have an EGD, which is set for 12/21. so hopefully i can be in the january sleevers club!

I was wondering what the goal of the 6 month dr assisted diet is? If you lose weight are you no longer elegible for the band?

Hello, my name is Julie. I am a wife and the proud mother of 3 wonderful children. I am also a Lucky patient of Dr. Thomas Byrne at MUSC’s Bariatric Surgery Program. My journey truly began in 2010; I weighed in at 226 pounds. I had spoken with my general physician on several occasions about my weight and the attempts that I had made (weight watchers, Jenny Craig, etc). My doctor suggested that I call MUSC’s bariatric surgery program for a consultation. I went home that day and researched weight loss surgery. I called that same afternoon for a consult appointment. My first sign that I was doing the right thing should have been the caring voice of Lisa Jackson. She helped get my consult set up and all of my questions answered. My consult went awesome. Dr. Byrne made me feel so welcome and most of all I felt that he cared about me, I was not just another fat chick in his office telling him "I am fat, please fix it". We went over the three different surgery options available, along with the risks and benefits to each. We discussed my goals and expectations as well as spending a great deal of time going over my health history. I also got to meet with one of the Registered Dieticians on staff. After consulting with Dr. Byrne, we decided that the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy was my best option for me. I felt so prepared after this appointment; all I needed to do was to set the date. After several months of research and red tape with my insurance I had the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy surgery in August of 2011. I had a slight bump in the road during recovery but nothing that Dr. Byrne and his amazing staff could not handle! I had developed a small blood clot in my abdominal cavity. Dr. Byrne and his physician’s assistant Diana quickly had me on the mend with the utmost care and compassion! Every day was better and better! I am now 7 months post VSG; I must say that I have never felt better! I wake up every day thankful for Dr. Byrne giving me this amazing "tool" to help me to become a healthy ME. This "tool" has worked so well for me with the help of Dr. Byrne’s team of registered dietician’s as well, Debbie and Nina. I have learned how to make healthier choices at home as well as at the supermarket (thanks to the supermarket tours and monthly support group meetings). I can’t say thank you enough! Thank You!!!! I am so happy to say that I have lost 70% of my excess body weight! I have lost 75 pounds and feel amazing. I am riding my bike at least 3 times per week, I go to an awesome Zumba class (Zumba with Alma) two to three times per week, and I am doing the 10 minute trainer videos at home. I try to stay current with support group meetings and other activities when I can. They are so informative, even for non surgical folks. I will tell anyone that asks me; Dr. Byrne and his staff (Diana, Debbie, Nina, Lisa, and the amazing nurses) are the best!!! I have seen other surgeons talk about weight loss surgery so I can truly tell you that I would send anyone to see Dr. Byrne! I actually did send my mother and my sister in law. My mother had Gastric Bypass in July 2011 and my sister in law is planning to have VSG in the next couple of months.