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It sounds like someone in the surgeons office coded things wrong, and they are evaluating it as a weight loss revision rather than as complication revision

Hi everyone! I have been creeping around on this website for some time now and I am finally going through the steps to have the procedure done. I just got my call today to schedule my surgeon appointment for the last visit before I get approved. I have been overweight most of my life, but I have been really packing on the pounds since I had my son in 2009. My highest weight was 284 when I was pregnant and I am currently at 267. I did lose all my baby weight that I gained during pregnancy, but then I have gained some of it back and I do not want to gain it all. I have tried all the different diets, I exercise, and I can usually lose some weight, but then I find it all again along with some extra. I am looking at the procedure to be the tool I have always been looking for to help me stay on track with my diet adventure and exercise. I am so impressed with all the success stories on this site and can only hope to be one of those one day and be able to help someone else make the decision to have this procedure done to help improve their life and health like you all have for me. I started a blog to keep track of my journey for myself and to maybe share with others like me in the future of meeting my goal. You are welcome to view my blog and comment with any encouragement along the way or tips if you see I am doing something in the wrong manner. I hope to be able to join the June bansters soon. Kati www.swollen2swanky.blogspot.com

Nope. I can eat anything. I have tried it all. Only thing my surgeon bans is carbonation. Have not tried that and don't intend to. That said, after you are recovered, that is when the real work begins. I am actually a year out as of today! I have not barfed, slimed, dumped or had any adverse reactions whatsoever to anything. Just because I can eat it doesn't mean I should. I eat very healthy 80 % of the time. I eat better 15% of the time and I eat good about 5% and by good its anything goes. Each surgeon has their own idea of what their patients can and can not consume post op. There are lots of folks who are told, no coffee, no bread, no alcohol, no this and no that. For me, it was just carbonation. I can live with that. I am still a work in progress, I have realistically about 13 pounds to go. Even though my goal is 130, I don't think I will look good or feel my best at that weight. Progress has been very slow the last few months but that was to be expected. I know you have heard that the sleeve is a tool and it is. It is a wonderful tool but it still takes a lot of hard work and permanent changes overall. You can do and If you love your sleeve half as much a I do, it will be the best thing for your health you have ever made! Best of luck to you!

Hello, I am in the process of meeting my ins requirements for the Sleeve procedure. Many unexpected feelings have emerged that I didn't expect and I wondered if anyone else has experienced the same thing. I have come to the realization than I am not just overweight but fat. I have long lived in a place where I never fully allowed myself to see me how others see me. Going through this process has forced me to admit just where I am with my weight and the reality of being obese. Now that I have come to accept these realizations, I find that I am having very negative self talk and I hate the way I look. I guess before I just lived in lala land and chose to not see reality but now that I have, I am disgusted. I am in the first month of a six month weight management class and because I am right at the 40bmi I am afraid to lose any weight. This is making me feel even more depressed cause I just hate how I look. Thank you all for contributing to this great forum. I have read hundreds of these threads to gather information and feel so thankful there is somewhere to turn. T

Just an update and a word of encouragement to all newbies. I'm 6 weeks post op - and since the surgery I lost about 20 lbs. First few weeks on liquids and mushies were kinda sucky - but tolerable. After that - I've been eating healthy foods, mostly lean seafood, veggies, occasional red meat - but very little. I haven't had a fill yet, so without restriction I've been watching my own portions and there have been days where I've eaten more than I should have. I've started on solids sooner than prescribed but I'm pretty well-tuned to what my body wants/needs and because of portion controls I've been able to eat most things. By choice I've eliminated most white carbs: rice, bread, Pasta. I've had a bit of rice and a nibble of bread here and there and I do have oatmeal - otherwise all Protein diet will screw up your BMs and you'll have to supplement Fiber. I really hate supplements or non-natural things, so I've been increasing fiber in my diet while keeping protein high. So far - only slight constipation - I know TMI 3-4 weeks post op I've started working out: cardio about 3-4 times a week and weights on alternating days. That has helped tremendously not so much in increased weight loss as in energy levels and overall healthy feeling. BEST PART - old pants fitting again!! And shirts and jackets too!! 20 lbs is about 1 size in clothes - so I'm back to L from being XL. Yay! Tomorrow I'm going in for the first fill - really excited about that. And a bit anxious because so far I've had nothing "stuck" as there was nothing to obstruct my pipes - now it's going to be different. I'm just hoping that post fill, I'll have just positive experience as I've head up until now. That 20 lbs of weight loss has increased my energy 10-fold - now I'm hoping that the weight loss will continue at a nice, steady pace. By Xmas I intend to look like a Greek god . So - if you just joined, just had a surgery - the first few weeks are tough but not impossible. After that - things are downhill. Stay motivated!! Ahab.

I'm with you too! Banded June 27th, 1st fill scheduled for August 18th... I too am eating pretty much anything, it all goes down, so although I've had 1 or 2 bad days (eating too much) I am back in 'weight watcher' mode. 22 lbs down... Yay us! and good luck to you and roziecakes (and me too)!!

Good Afternoon, everyone. My name is Melissa and I have a Lap-Band. LOL I'm going to start by saying that I am probably the least likely person here to be talking about my surgery. Honestly, there are only a select few people in my life that even know I have a band. However, I have had some experiences recently that have led me to seek answers, and my first Google search led me here. I had my Lap Band Surgery on December 1, 2009 in Bellevue, WA. My insurance company insisted on an overnight stay in a hospital, otherwise I would have had my surgery at NorthWest Weight Loss Surgery (NWWLS) in Everett, WA. My surgeon was Dr. Alana Chock and she was wonderful. As a matter of fact, EVERYONE at NWWLS are pretty amazing. :-) I started my journey at 256 pounds...I had tried what seemed like every option available, from exercise to Jenny Craig, WeightWatchers, Nutrisystem, etc. to diet pills and so on. I have a pretty active lifestyle to begin with...no, really! My family would always say "Well, if you're so active, why are you heavy?" Well, I couldn't answer that question then, and I can't answer that question now. All I know is that on a daily basis, I walk a MINIMUM of 2 miles...I climb up and down ladders (2-3 stories) all day...I always take the stairs instead of the elevator (mostly because it's faster than waiting). Anyway, Dr. Chock determined that I was a good candidate for single-incision surgery, and I have only one scar - right at my belly button. During the first year of having my Lap Band, I lost about 74 pounds and held steady at 182 pounds for over a year....right up to this past Christmas. One evening, I went to dinner with friends. I'm not sure what caused it, whether it was the type of food I ate or accidentally eating too quickly, but I ended up in the restroom seeing my meal in reverse. Unfortunately for me, there was also blood there. I panicked and immediately called to make an appointment with Dr. Chock the next morning. During my appointment, she used the flouroscope to see what was going on and told me "Your band is very tight." I thought that was odd, because I hadn't been experiencing any difficulty up to that point...but she removed 0.4cc of Fluid from my band that day (December 22nd) and scheduled me to come back after the holidays to see how things were. Now I will mention that during Christmas, I was probably eating WAY more than I should have...but it also took WAY more to make me feel full. Granted, I realize that 0.4cc of fluid isn't much...but it apparently made a huge difference to MY stomach. So, I went in on January 5th of this year to get a fill done....and I had gained 14 POUNDS!!! 14 POUNDS in 14 DAYS!! I just couldn't believe it. They did a fill of 0.2cc and said to come back in a month to see how I'm doing. A few days later, I received a letter from my insurance company stating that they would no longer be covering NWWLS as a "preferred provider." So, to deter any immediate out of pocket costs, I went to see a doctor that they recommended on March 26th. They also did a flouroscopy and said that my band is very tight, and refused to do a fill. Here is where I am confused, and realistically, SCARED. The day before my last appointment, I finished my dinner. That may not seem odd to some of you, but I FINISHED my DINNER. I haven't cleaned my plate since November 30, 2009. So, for them to tell me that my band is very tight, but I am able to eat a full plate of food...that terrifies me. Right now, I weigh 199 pounds. I told myself that I would NEVER, EVER, see 200 pounds again...and here I am teetering on that edge. My doctors tell me that my band is fine and it looks good on the scope....but there is definitely something wrong. Can anyone offer me some advice??? Thanks so much in advance.

I am five days post-op. I am feeling good. I walked 2.5 miles this morning, I had gas in my shoulder yesterday and thought I was going to pass out. Finally, my oldest sister, who is two years post op told me to drink a hot soda to relieve the gas. Lord knows I didn't want to but I think it save my life definietely from the pain. I am moving around great but has a lot of gas. Really believe it's from the pre-op diet of broth which can be greasy. My initial weight was 212 pounds; heaviest weight: 222; I lost 12 pounds during the two weeks pre-op diet phase. Day of surgery I weighed in at 200 pounds. Today, I am at 199.0. Not much difference.

@sleeve of steel, I am two weeks post op, and I appreciate your post. I was thinking the same thing about my weight loss when I am able to eat solids in two weeks. I know it will take me probably a couple of weeks to adjust, but in the past I had to eat to lose.

Hello all pre/post banders and everyone in between. I am a newbie to this site, and within the last 24 hours or so have begun to find it so helpful. I have been considering lap band for a few years now. Just recently I finally took the step forward to becoming a healthier me. I had to complete a 6 month metabolic program which consisted of me seeing a nutritionist once a month, a phsyc visit, a weight loss meeting, and a lap band seminar. I finally completed all of the necessary requirements this past April . I got my pre-surgical referral to see this wonderful doctor...Dr. Shayani. I have seen nothing but the best reviews about him and his staff. I highly recommend him. As of April 19th I completed all of his post surgical requirements, which were an esophogram, phsyc approval, and some lab work. Now I am impatiently waiting to schedule my surgery. Currently I am 241lbs 5'3in . My goal weight is 140-145. But we shall see. I think I will be happy at any weight around that number, I will know when I am comfortable with my body again. I am not really nervous far as the surgery goes. What’s bothering me is how my body will adjust to the weight loss. I know I need to work out, but I'm not sure if my body will keep up since I would be losing weight at a more rapid pace. With that being said has anyone (mainly females) had problems with sagging skin, or droopy boobs? I contacted BC/BS of IL and inquired about cosmetic surgery. Happy to say it is something that covered under my plan with a referral. Can anyone can give me a little insight as to what I have forward to looking to far as this waiting game, and post op care, any and all comments, suggestions, and words of encouragement are all greatly appreciated. Thank you and I wish everyone much continued success on your journey!! :wub:

Welcome Back glad you knew you could come back to get rebooted! I love that people from a couple of years ago ask for help, this just proves the point that we need each other. You will get to your goal weight because you understand the help community can give.

Here are my measurements the day before I started my pre-op diet vs. today. (All sizes in inches because Americans are weird that way.) Before/After Neck 18.5/15.5 Chest 50.5/43 Stomach 57.5/41 Waist 49/39 Bicep 12.5/11 Thigh 27.5/22 Hips 50/42 Weight 336.4/218.4 How about you folks?

I was banded in 2008. Never felt full. Never reached a sweet spot. Random foods would get stuck. Sometimes the same food I'd eaten earlier without a problem. I never told anyone about my band either...and I'm glad because you can't tell I had WLS. I'm grateful that I never had a slip or erosion. However, the little weight I lost has all returned. Throwing up every day since 2008 got old...excusing yourself from the dinner table, etc. Even at 260 lbs people are thinking I have an eating disorder since I leave the table so often. 12/2012, I had all of the fluid removed from my band. I was hopeful for a revision, but the main goal was to get this band removed!! I am fortunate and have been approved for a revision on 4/25. I don't want to fail again. I'm going to give it all I got and not look back. I've decided to put the lap band behind me. I don't want to compare recovery, eating, digestion....anything. As of 4/25 (for me) the band never existed. I MUST do this. This band has been worse emotionally than any bad relationship I've encountered. Best to you all. I haven't even been revised yet and I know that it is a better decision.

That's pretty much my position, except I am a bit afraid of surgery, but I'm more afraid of failing again. Regaining all the weight from the lapband kicked my emotional butt so badly that I don't want to go through it again and I certainly don't want to go through it publicly. I'm already hiding out socially, hoping that I don't run into people who last saw me at the height of my lapband success. I'm ashamed. I hate that I have to do this again, but I know that I have to do this again to give myself a fighting chance at ridding myself of all this weight and all these aches and pains. My feet and legs hurt. I walk like a fat lady...heck, that's what I am. Anyway, I thought about just getting the lapband out and going it on my own and then I really thought about it and said hell no. I've still got some fight left in me. Consider this" We have a lot of experience under our belt with band. We can use it to be better with the sleeve and take this second chance to take the bull by the horns and let our tool work for us. It's just a better tool. The band is not the right tool for everybody. The sleeve seems less forgiving and more cooperative, but not a magic bullet. Good luck (to both of us)!

Congratulations! Surgery must be over by now and you are on your way to feeling better. You will soon be telling us how good you are feeling and how much weight is just melting off of you! Let us know when you can how surgery went.

Hi again, I realised that I posted this in 'introductions' and then didn't introduce myself!! Please call me Loulou, I am 31 weigh 261 and I'm 5'7. I live in Westen Australia with my DH and cat Freya. I have been overweight since I was 4 and I have an emotional attachment to food. All through my life people have tried to get me to lose weight; parents, friends, partners etc. I have rebelled from this by eating and eating and eating. And now that the world has finally accepted my right to eat, and accepted my unmissable bulk, I cant stop. I am going into the operation with hope, I keep telling myself that "I have chosen this", no one has forced it on me, and I own it and all the consequences good and bad. I want to be healthy, I want to be strong, I want to emerge from a trail of devastating failures to sparkling success and hope. Am I expecting too much from my band and not enough from myself??

Glad to know there are others out there Today makes day 3 I think the worst part has been the headaches I am adding coffee to my regime in the morning The withdrawl is killing me I am drinking Advent carb control-chocolate is the best-no after taste for me-vanilla was not bad just an after tast I did not like I am also eating 4 cups of yogurt, 2 sugar free fudgesicles and as many sugar free popsicles as I want My surgery is schedued for the 21st How did you get that little counter scale on your site? I am pre diet 195 and want to get down to 120-130 I am having diabetic trouble and just can not seem to loose this weight Where are you located in the world? Thank you for writting please keep in touch I can really use the support

My surgery date is November 28th and I have not lost anything, it's hard as hell to remain cigarette free cold turkey since Jan and loose weight at the same time, I'm addicted to Pasta and it has made my AIC (blood work to measure diabetes) go up from 5.8 to 7.8, I'm not happy with that I would like to walk more and eat smaller portions I pray and pray for the strength. Sent from my SM-G928T using the BariatricPal App

I agree with Big Girl Panties! The fact is this, this is a LIFESTYLE change. I have a friend who has to go through a weight loss program for 3 months before insurance will let her do the sleeve. She keeps saying that this is a "diet" and she doesn't know how she'll get through it. I keep saying, "This is not a diet. This is the first step in your journey." The liquids aren't fantastic, but it's only a very small piece of your journey. You know how they say that once women give birth they forget all of the pain that goes along with it? Liquids is the same thing. It may seem daunting and scary, but it's a small piece of the puzzle. If you look at it that way, it might be easier to get through. Keep thinking, "This isn't forever - it's just for now." When you look at the pounds dropping, I guarantee you'll be happy. I too watch My 600 lb life. I use it as a motivator for myself. Look at some of the pit falls those folks go through and set your mind that you won't do what they did. Then, look at what they do to become successful - and do that too!!! We have a love/hate relationship with food and that obsessive relationship needs to end. You'll grieve, you'll go back, you'll fight, make up......all of it. But, when you determine that food is only a fuel and not a pleasure, your brain will switch. You got this! Congratulations on your first step down the yellow brick road of healthiness!!!!

Welcome to the site and congratulations on being sleeved. It is really difficult to compare your results to anyone elses. There are just too may things to take into account to do an apples to apple comparison. Your startIng weight/BMI, weight loss history, age, gender, exercise level, fitness level ... I would definitely recommend you not trying to compare yourself. We don't know you and can't say if your progression is "normal". That being said, 12 pounds lost and kept off is awesome! Have you ever been able to do that before and know that those 12 pounds are never coming back? I followed the same advice as your nutrition classes suggested. I had to pull back a few times as my stomach was tender for awhile. But I kept following the rules of not drinking before, after or during eating and I always started with lean Protein before moving to veggies. I started exercising and running. As long as you stick to the rules, you will lose weight. Are you going to lose it as fast as someone starting out with a BMI of 80? I don't think so. I you going to lose it slower than a person who started out with a BMI of 30? I don't think so. You are going to lose at the rate you are going to lose. Follow the rules and it will be quicker. Break the rules and it will be slower. Good luck and welcome. Please keep us posted on your progress and don't forget to use the search functionality in the upper right hand corner if the website or under Option on your mobile device.

Hi I'm new to the group I'm happy I found a group that I can share wat I'm going thu . I got my surgery 11 months ago I only lost 60 pounds n my weight is still has not gone done.

Im in Alberta too, This is what I've been doing, what is the difference now?and when you dieted before? Do you have all your weight you want to loose? Im looking at an appointment for August or september I wish I could make my mind up and do it the next day

When my weight loss stalled, one day I would increase the number of calories over what my normal daily calorie goal was and then eat fewer calories than usual the next day. After a few days, this seemed to "trick" my body in to thinking I wasn't starving it and weight loss would continue. It is very important to document your calories and Protein every day. As has already been said, you may not be eating enough. Too few calories and too little protein will not increase your weight loss. Everyone has stalls. Good luck with your weight loss journey!

I'm going to be banded the day before you. I didn't have a pre-op diet, so I imagine that I will lose a lot of Water weight the 1st month. Are you on a preop diet? Also, I will avoid all 4th of July bbqs. I think you have a legit reason not to make an appearance. Good luck!

So it's very safe. And b4 my weight. Lost. I tryed to have. Baby. But I never was able to keep it I kept losing it