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Hey N! How's your journey going? Have you met it's Coirin yet? What did you think? Pre-op 275.9lbs -surgery 10/5 265.0lbs -11/11/12 241.8lbs

You won't like me after that heheeeh... (blowing her whistle..yelling "Now give me 10") ahhaha j/k

I had my Lap Band done in Mexico and I know that there are some fine Dr.'s there, but the thing that is really bothering me right now about Mexico is the crime problem. In fact, I just read this morning that kidnappings are up nearly 10% this year alone. Mind you many of these kidnappings involve wealthy Mexicans, but this problem spiraling out of control indicates to me that the crime situation is deteriorating rapidly there and the government is somewhat powerless to get it under control at this time. Police corruption is a huge problem there -- understandable when you have an underpaid police force in a poor country and wealthy drug/crime lords willing to pay HUGE bribes, a very bad combo indeed. The Mexican people are some of the sweetest, nicest people on the planet and I have nothing but good things to say about my bariatric surgery experience in Mexico, but if you do decide to travel there at this time, be very careful............

Hi,I had my surgery last Wed 2/6/10 and it seemed to go well.I had a Hiatus hernia repaired at the same time.Unfortunately i had a cold all week as well so still feel a bit under the weather.I have some left shoulder tip pain and have been taking Paracetamol only so far since discharge as well as in hospital.I did not have any gas pain just some tightness around my sternum and I was wondering if anyone has any idea how long the shoulder tip pain goes on for ?I have been using hot packs for it but it is really annoying.Also is it normal to feel a bit lightheaded and have a slight headache all the time even though it is 5 days after surgery? Any ideas would be great.

Finally!! I have been trying to post this question for a few days and couldn't get this app to work Any how I am hope to have my op in March but I am really concerned about excesses skin. I am 39 I weigh app 23 stone. I hope to lose about 10 ( more if poss) so any info would be great. Thanks

@@LisaMergs I am right there with you and let me tell you, when that weight comes off and you realize that all that loose skin is pulling on your body, plastics is a must. At least for me it is. I started with a 5950.00 Brachioplasty and I just took a 19 week project to cover the cost of my Abdominalplasty and breast lift with augmentation. That surgery is going to cost around 18K total..... I started my new project yesterday and I swear as every hour goes by I have a secret smile on my face knowing that I just paid for part of my surgery. I think it stinks that insurance does not cover any of it. For Peres sake, obesity is a metabolic disease. And guess what, it is a disease that can and will end your life early. Why then is reconstruction not covered? I just simply don't agree with that. As I sit here all trussed up in my spanx that hold my tummy in....... It is BS and it needs to change. Just my two cents......

Hello I am new to the forum. My name is Drema and I live in a small town. I had my surgery on 10-29-10. I first wanted to a RNY, but after some reading I decided to change my mind to the sleeve. My BMI was 40 with co-morbidities. I am now 6 days out of surgery and feeling better every day. My surgery was performed at Samaritan Hospital, Corvallis, Or, under the “excellence clinic” of Dr. Yarbrough. The surgery went very well and the hospital stay as good as it gets for being stuck in a hospital for two days. I am glad I made the decision to have the sleeve instead of the RNY. There are many advantages to the sleeve over other surgery it was oblivious to me that it would be the best. The loss rate is the same, so it wasn’t hard to choose the sleeve. I am still a little sore, but getting regular rest and exercise and Water, yippee I get to eat creamed Soup tomorrow. hehe Nice meeting everyone!

Sleeved 10/25. I ended up in the ER yesterday having IV fluids because I was getting only half my fluids in. Feel like crap today. This is not going to plan. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi. There were a lot of people with a 10/26/16 surgery date on the boards prior to my surgery. I just wanted to see if anyone wants to chat or even start a little group as we go through this. I had my surgery at 7:30 am on 10/26/16. The first day was awful and on the second day I failed my swallow test and had a few minor complications and a major meltdown. I wasn't able to have anything to drink until 3:00 pm on 10/28/16 and didn't get to go home until 10/30/16. I'm now a little behind on my post op routine, started full liquids Monday. Pain wise, I am ok for a while and then the pain gets so bad I need to lay down. I have been walking a 1/2 a mile every morning (still can't get the gas out) and been taking trips to the store to keep busy. Maybe over doing it a bit.... Other than that, I am very bored and I am even starring to miss work. Hope everyone's surgeries went well!!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm scheduled for 10/27. Only told three friends, mom and boyfriend. Told work I was having major surgery.. that's it. My bff had the surgery in 2012 and inspired me to get it. My mom had lap band like 8 years ago and told me to get the sleeve. My two close girlfriends are very supportive. My boyfriend is the problem. He has tried every diet known to man. A far more body conscience man than I've ever dealt with but then again he's a former athlete and they do a lot of weird things to their bodies through 'discipline ' he just can not understand why I can't do it on my own and not 'take the easy way out'. I'm 5'8.5 and 270 and carry most of my weight in my thighs and lower legs so if I have pants on I look deceptively smaller than I am. He says I can get back to my pre baby weight with just going to the gym more regularly. Doesn't understand I can't lose weight because of my comorbidity... this is really putting a strain on our relationship but I'm going to do the best thing for my health. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

How did everyone do going back to work? I start back tomorrow which is post-op day 14 for me. I feel fine except for the usual sore spots on my abdomen, but I also work 10 hour shifts, so I am nervous about that. I can always leave early if I need to, but I am going to try to make the entire shift. My biggest concern is the walking around because I do my work 100% at the computer, and the only times I get up during the day are for bathroom and breaks, so walking every hour is not really an option.

So when I went to my consultation with the doctor they tested me for H Pylori, and it came back positive, so they stated after completing the 10 day antibiotics, i had to wait 4 weeks to be retested. But I am a little nervous based on other posts that it is difficult to cure. Please provide me feedback on what happened after you did a treatment to get rid of h pylori to qualify to schedule your surgery.

Experiment with temperatures. I can't drink anything unless is super, super, cold. If it's hot, warm or lukewarm, I can't do it. It makes me feel ugghgh. (yes, The only way I can describe the feeling is with ugh) With real foods I can tolerate more of a variety of temperatures, but I can't do leftovers. It's been a lot of trial and error with my foods, I've thrown up more in the past three-four weeks than I have in the past 10 years. It's not pleasant. I'm about 7 weeks out, and much better than I was the first couple weeks.

I really enjoy Unjury's chicken Soup flavored Protein. I dilute in 10 to 12 oz Water instead of 8 and I'm careful to let the water cool to under 140 F before I mix in the powder. 100 calories and 21 grams protein. Had lapband surgery 10/12/16

I have scheduled this surgery, paid for it and now it seems people have come out of the wood work with negative information. I am scared out of my mind. Tell me about the first 10 days. Also this girl from another physicians office said after 18 months she is still throwing up.

Put on socks...no cold feet. I will tell you my personal experience and I may be one of the very lucky ones. Day before surgery, heck the week before surgery I was terrified and going to cancel...then I said to myself..."If you cancel, come this time in six months you'll still be overweight and kicking yourself." I have reasons for doing this surgery and I just reminded myself of them. I went with my sisters the weekend before and I purchased a size 10 pair of capri pants....they are hanging on my closet door as inspiration. Here's my recovery since surgery. I was banded on 4/18. I had surgery at 7:30 a.m. and was out of surgery by 9:20 (that is when my dr. went to see my husband so I was probably out sooner). I had a HH repaired too. I woke up and felt pretty good. Sore but good. Before I opened my eyes I touched my stomach to see if they had to "open me up" - nope two little incisions...one about 1/2 inch and the other about 2 inches. Closed beautifully. Taken up to my room and I was on a patient controlled pain pump. Loved that! They asked me around 4:00 what my pain level was and I told them honestly it was only about a 3. I felt really good but wobbly...thanks to the drugs. Tried to sleep most of the day/night between them coming in every few hours to check my vitals...seriously, I'm recovering please just let me sleep! Next morning....pain set in a little more...and I was probably at a 7 but still tolerable! Nothing to drink and around 9:30 a.m. they took me down for an upper g.i. - - - I had one done before surgery where you drink that chalky pink or white stuff. Well, whatever they gave me to drink for this one...was cruel punishment for something I must have done...literally, it tasted like vomit (that bile stuff you try to throw up when there is nothing left in your stomach, bitter nasty stuff). Anyhow, you asked so I'm telling. Then they gave me a little chalky stuff to drink and this was to check and make sure everything was closed up and in place nicely. Back up to my room after the ok. I had some chicken broth and some juice....awesome. I was released on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. Went home and slept. Didn't take any pain medication. Wednesday, no appetite and swollen but not in too much pain. I took my liquid pain medication because I was just a bit uncomfortable and wanted some good sleep. UGH, the liquid pain meds made me so sick...I was sitting there praying I wasn't going to get sick. I didn't but it was close. Didn't take any pain medication after that and really didn't need it. No appetite and was eating popcicles, juice, broth etc. Feeling pretty good surgery wise but just tired. Wednesday after surgery, this headache set in like I've never ever felt before. I was prepared for the gas pain in my shoulder like others talked about but this headache scared me. Nothing touched it and I refused to take my pain medication because it made me so sick. I actually called the on-call doctor on Saturday because I was scared I was goign to have a stroke or something. It made me sick to my stomach, I couldn't swallow without shooting pain. It was at the base of my head (top of my neck) on the left side and as each day went by it would spread to the point it was across the top of my shoulder. I sat there and cried in pain and couldn't turn my head. It was horrific. Dr. said it was probably the gas settling in my neck!!! (this finally disappeared after almost 3 weeks...two weeks of intense headache and then it slowly disappeared). Well, Easter was the Sunday following my surgery and this is when I discovered that I have no problems with eating anything. I ate some sweet potatoes, some mashed potato salad, some peas and something else but can't remember. I have had no problems eating anythign I've tried since then. I am a horrible, horrible follower of the rules and my advice would be to try and stick to them the best you can. I do pretty well and stay on track for the most part but do cheat.....and I know I shouldn't. Next week I should be on regular foods according to the schedule. I do NOT eat like I used to.....I eat much less, and I'm honestly not as hungry as I used to be...maybe it's mental but I don't care, it's working for me. I had restriction at first and was so excited, but soon realized that was because of my stomach being swollen and not because of anything the band was doing for me. I cannot wait to get that feeling back and I LOVE my band already. I do eat less, and I do eat slower so I think that goes hand in hand. I've lost 20 pounds and it is awesome. I put on a pair of jeans this past weekend that I haven't worn in 3 years. I'm down one whole pant size already...and people who haven't seen me can tell the difference in my face already. DO IT...remember your reasons.....I wouldn't take this back for anything. i'm still a little sore around my port area, but that is because I try to be Wonder Woman and do it all myself...and my husband doesn't get that he should just do certian things for me without me having to ask him 100 times to do it.....he should know that I'm still recovering and shouldn't be trying to lug in a bunch of groceries, lifting heavy things and carrying them far, but if I don't do it, it wont' get done. With that aside, I wouldn't change this experience for anything. I have an 11cc Realize band and they DO NOT give you any fill after surgery with this band and I think that has helped me with my recovery....not so much in the faster restriction like others have but I don't have a lot of port pain and I don't have problems with things getting stuck etc. I get my first fill on 6/2 and cannot wait....I'll let you know how it goes after that...When I REALLY have to start following the rules because hopefully there will be some restriction there! I do love my band and I know it is going to be the best thing I could have done for myself.! Good luck......

I was just banded last week and have lost since then. I came into the banding process since I do know how to lose weight. I lost 102 pounds in 2 years but could not keep it all off. I have found through TOPS ( Take Off Pounds Sensibly) how to gradually lose and maintain weight in the long run. I was banded because even with working out 5-7 hours a week and eating reasonably I put back on 35 pounds and could not get my control back. I can tell you that losing 1-2 pounds a week is much easier on your system and it does not cause skin sagging or massive hair loss. I have a friend who had GB in November and has lost over 80 pounds but her her hair is falling out and she looks 10 years older. So be patient... it is worth waiting for!!

I like the hourly office jog thing so I am going to do it again today. 2 minutes walk/jog 7:20 - 5min:clap2: :clap2: 8:02 9:30 10:15 -5min

I like the hourly office jog thing so I am going to do it again today. 2 minutes walk/jog 7:20 - 5min:clap2: :clap2: 8:02 9:30 10:15 -5min

I didn't know that there was another Dr here in Palm Bay that did the LapBand other than Dr Fusco. Wow, I will pass that along to a lady I work with. She wants to have the LapBand but doesn't want to drive to Ocala. Did he have a huge program fee like Fusco? I just drove by PBCH yesterday for the first time since they broke ground for the addition. Wow! That's gonna be a really big hospital when it's all done. But they really did need it. I prefer PBCH over Holmes. I feel like I am just an Insurance # at Holmes. PBCH nurses were always so nice and friendly. I have decided to go with RNY. I have (hopefully) one last thing to conquer and that is an ECG and a stress test. I am now finishing up with a 10 course for H Pylori. One more blood test for that too. Then everything goes to the surgeon and off to BCBS. I had my consult w/the WLS 08/29 and at that point he was booked till mid to late Oct. So if I get a quick approval I am hoping to get a surgery date of early to mid Nov. How are you doing since the surgery? I hope everything is going well for you. Do you go to the Melbourne support group? It is for anyone pre or post wls. The next meeting is on 10/06 at the food court in the Melbourne Mall @ 6pm. I am planning on attending for a while. It will be my first group meeting. If you do decide to go you just have to look for a red headed woman with a green purse. :biggrin: Hope to see you.

Sure thing... For the low-carb Lemon Cheesecake 2 packages of cream cheese (low fat, less carbs) 2 eggs sugar substitute (the amt depends on how sweet you like it, I find that the sugar substitute tends to have an after taste once heated, so I use about 1/2 cup and add more lemon) vanilla extract juice of 2 lemons and the zest (I like it tart) almond flour cinnamon nutmeg 2 tbl spoons butter For the topping lf sour cream (1/2 cup) sugar substitute lemon juice heat the oven to 350.. melt butter, mix with 1/2 cup almond flour, 2 tbl spoons sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg. press in the bottom on a pie pan and bake for 10 minutes. beat the room temp cream cheese with the sugar (first), then add the ramaining ingredietnts (be sure to taste it before you bake it), you may want more sugar, more lemon, etcccc... bake for 1 hr. when done, mix the sour cream, sugar, lemon, pour over the cheesecake and bake for another 10 minutes.... refrigerate and chill each serving has about 4-5 carbs

Well, today is March 19, 2007. I got up this morning and gave myself an I V anti-biotic. I took three more anti-biotics orally. I will repeat this process every eight hours all day, for at least the rest of this week. On March 8th I went to the hospital to be banded. Everything went well. I remember waking up in recovery thinking, wow, the pain really isn't that bad. I remember going to my room for my overnight stay. I was happy that the worst was over, and that I would finally have control over my out of control weight gain. Sometime later that evening, I was given ice chips to let melt, and that was when I knew something was bad wrong. As the liquid hit my stomach, I felt a searing hot pain spread from my stomach to my left side. The pain continued unabated all night long. I took morphine every time it was allowed and counted the minutes until I could get more relief from what I know was the worst pain I have ever experienced in my life. Sometime in the middle of the night I spiked a temperature of 102.9. I knew this wasn't normal either. In the morning I was taken for a sip test. (btw, that stuff tastes terrible) A few minutes later I was back in my room still in pain. My doctor came to my room and told me the sip test had revealed a hole in my stomach. Gastric juices and Water had been leaking into my abdomin all night. At 2:30 that afternoon, I went back to surgery. The band was removed, and the hole was repaired. I spent the next three days in TCU with an NG tube keeping my stomach empty. During that three days all I had was ice chips. On the Monday after my surgery I was taken back downstairs for another sip test to insure that the hole had been repaired. After finding no leaks, the NG tube was removed and I was given a clear liquid diet for a couple of days. During all this time I was also in the care of an infectious disease doctor, who cultured the stuff growing in my abdomin It was determined that I had a staf infection. On Thursday, eight days later, I was finally released from the hospital with a pic line.(sp) I have to continue on IV medications at home at least through the end of the week. Before I had surgery, I had done alot of research. I felt that this option was the safest option out there, and it may be. The point I guess that I am making is that nothing is for sure. I don't know where I will go from here. I have a lot of thinking and healing left to do. I know the band has been a blessing for many people, but it very nearly killed me. For those of you about to be banded I wish you luck, and pray for you to be successful. I have dealt with being overweight practically all of my adult life, and understand the desperation people feel over these issues. Just understand that odds of 200:1 are pretty good as long as you are not the "1". Regards, Keith

I'm 15 days post op. I've been a perfect little patient and not strayed from my prescribed diet, with the exception of a couple puffed cheetos last week. Today, I grocery shopped, bought some plain chips to pack in lunches and I had an overwhelming "need" to have some. I probably had 10 whole chips. I'm probably fooling myself, but I'd like to think my body was just screaming for salt...at any rate...I felt really bad about the whole thing. I'm on mushy type food right now, but I'm sure the chips won't hurt me cause I chewed and basically disolved them in my mouth. I just feel like one little thing will lead to out of control behavior. When just a month ago, I would have ate 1/2 the bag as an appetizer for dinner! I know I won't go my entire life without indulging some cravings, within reason, but having a band makes me feel like I can NEVER ever touch the stuff. I think I need to let it be, and go on. I guess I'm not "out of control" as I was able to stop and I know I shouldn't be having that type of stuff at this point.....*sigh* :biggrin::sad:

I try to follow this... 7am -8am (8 oz h2o + MTV & B12) pain meds if needed. 8:30am - Breakfast 9:30am - 8oz h2o 10:30am - 3oz Protein shake 11:00am - 8oz h2o 12:30 - lunch (after lunch I take a nap) 2:30 - 8oz h2o 3:30 - 8oz h2o 4:30 - 3oz h2o 5:30 - 8oz h2o 7pm - dinner 8pm - 8oz h2o (MTV & IRON) 9pm - 8oz h2o + pain meds if needed

@@Namaste6 First of all congratulations on the surgery and best wishes for a speedy recovery. Secondly, just keep sipping all day. Your sleeve is recovering from a huge change in size and you will be surprised how things can become easier day by day. Day three for me was probably the same as you but by day 10 I was getting more than 64oz of fluids in with no problem. Do you have Protein shakes made with Water? I counted those in with my fluids total. Initially I mixed the protein with about 20oz of water and sipped on it constantly. Have you tried warm drinks, very cold drinks, and room temperature drinks? Try them all and see what works best for you. Best wishes !! ~ Hugs ~