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Congrats! That's wonderful! I've lost 6 lbs in the past week on liquid diet. My surgery is a week from today. Nervous about the actual procedure but SO ready for the wonderful changes ahead!

Thanks for all the + feedback! I have less shoulder pain today than previously. Almost none really. I'm actually able to take larger sips of liquids today, and next week it's going to be pudding time! LOL

Hello everyone, I'm at day 3 post op, and been dealing with the infamous shoulder pain and starvation feeling. I believe this is due to me being swollen and not able to drink as much as I'd like to make me feel full. At any rate, my wife and I are both now on the other side. She was banded over a year ago at Christmas time and has lost 90lbs. I'm hoping to do as well as her. I'm starting out at 240, and set my goal at 160, although I'll be happy with anything below 200. For anyone else out there who is post op, I can tell you my experience has been more painful that I thought it would be. I just didn't think I'd have this much pain. Although, from what feedback I read here a lot of my issues are not uncommon. I keep thinking, hey, I've lost 11 pounds already! It's going to be worth it! I can't wait for cottage cheese week 3! LOL Good luck to everyone out there!

I am approved but i have three comorbidities and I have a BMI much higher than 35. What I do know is they are one of the few that approve the sleeve

Hello fellow sleevers, I am excited and nervous at the same time. I have my pre opt appt today with my surgeon and I'm not sure exactly what to expect. Honestly this whole process has been going by so quick that I can't even believe my surgery is less than 3 weeks away on february 6th. I have already started my short term disability process with my employer so i'm ready to go!! Naturally, i keep going back and forth with myself fearing that I am not making the right decision. Reading your posts about the progress some of you are making gives me hope, and lets me know that I am making the right decision for me as well as my family. Like l've said in previous posts, I have 2 children, a 5 year old little girl (who will be turning 6 feb 3rd) and a 18 month old little boy. I want to be able to live a much healthier life for them. As far as the insurance approval goes, my surgeons office hasn't really mentioned anything about it. I asked one question about it during my first visit (back in November) and he said a lady from his office would take care of that. I called on my own and talked to a customer service rep( I have United Healthcare Choice Plus) who stated that my policy did cover the sleeve with a bmi of 40+, or 35+ with comorbities (i have high blood pressure). There was nothing in my policy about a supervised weight loss time period. My doctors office seems to feel like the insurance approval portion of the process is "easy". I guess I'm a little nervous about being denied for some reason. I really want this surgery. My doctor gave me my surgery date at my 2nd appt with him in December. Has anyone elso gone through an easy insurance approval process like this?? Oh and can someone tell me what I should expect to happen at my pre-op visit today. I know I should just wait since its only 8 hours away but as you can see I am very impatient!

It lessened after about a week, thankfully. Never took any Benadryl, didn't feel like crushing them lol. It still itches on the surface, but it's scratch able!

Oh...gotcha! There are soooo many steps that i dont even know whats reaaly next. I guess i just assumed they wont schedule my surgery date until we find out if im approved. Hope this week flies by for you!!

Ditto to what Elcee said - having the sleeve now wouldnt worry me, I've lost half my colon and am doing fine without it, so meh, what's a bit of my stomach I'm not particularly using? You dont get malabsorption with the sleeve, that's bypass. You just have a smaller stomach. Also, it can be attractive to think of having restriction straight away with the sleeve, not finding it so elusive, and not having trouble with random foods. But make no mistake, all bariatric surgeries work best at first, and then you do learn to eat around them, the adjustability of the band is fantastic in that regard. If your sleeve loses its effectiveness, there's no tightening it up! Then again, I had to unfill my band totally for a surgery, have just got retriction back 12 months later and am now looking at an investigative gastroscopy (have bad Iron depletion, and am post menopausal which means a high likelihood of a GI bleed at some point in my guts and my colonoscopy this week was normal) so that means ANOTHER unfill. Groan. I've also endured my colorectal surgeon banging on all year about how skinny I am (I'm really not, I dont think). I'd love to have a sleeve that nobody could make me unfill! I'd love not to have to go back for fills. My band is almost full (only 0.2cc to go) and I dont have anythign like the restriction I had before I unfilled it. A sleeve, once it is done, is DONE. But the band is totally adjustable, totally reversible and it probably makes sense to try it first before you go changing your body irrevocably. In all likelihood, it'll work and be enough for you.

Hello sleevers. I am a 35 BMI with hypertension. I've spent my life dieting (losing and then gaining more). I consider myself a dieting expert. The problem is I just gain it all back later. I am sure many of you are like me. So now I am 4 months out before I start my pysch eval and cardio workup. My doc says he wants me to lose weight now, during this 4-month period. I wil be doing a liquid diet 2 weeks before surgery next year as well. My doc says he wants me to show the bariatric team I can make changes. I wanted to scream. I've spend my life doing this, doc. So now I'm going to diet again, only to do the two week liquid diet before surgery? I totally understand the liquid diet--it's a safety issue. As for the losing weight now, on a diet, I feel like it is punishment. I feel punished for being fat. I was surprised at how it made me feel. I can understand not gaining weight, but full-fledged dieting right now? GRRRRRRR.... Please don't chastise me that I'm going to need to make changes and be disciplined after the surgery--I get that and am all for it. I've been doing it all of my life without the tool of the surgery, so I'll be fine with it. I am just emotionally drained with dieting and the scale right now! Did anyone else feel this way? Bottom line: I'll lose weight and follow the rules. I just need to move past my diet burnout stage. TDSK

I'm 18 years old. I've been overweight since I was little. I've come to the conclusion that I am obsessed with food. Any diet I've tried (and believe me, I've tried them all) I would give in and cheat. I'd fail miserably every time. I couldn't be in front of food without having any. If someone were to ask me if anyone wanted "seconds" I'd be the only one to say yeah. At a buffet I'd go up three or four times. Anyway.. 2weeks ago I started my liquid diet (pre op diet). And let me tell you how proud I am of myself. I did not cheat once.I had a "last supper" three days before the liquid diet started. But since then I've lost a few pounds and only stuck to what the doctor told me. Last week I was at a labor day party. There was sooo much food and I didn't even touch it! I was so happy and proud of myself because I didn't see where this self control came from. But to be honest, I was just in the kitchen and I was sooo tempted to get a bag of chips. And I even went to eat slices of cheese. I had the knife in my hand and I was ready to give in. But it instantly hit me that my surgery is on tuesday!! I've been waiting for this for 5years. I couldn't bring myself to screw this up. So I put away the chips and the cheese and got a jello instead.

I exercise 6 days a week doing kickboxing yoga and zumba. I don't eat many carbs I have sugar free carnation instant Breakfast every day. I don't eat snacks and eat very small meals. I eat under 1200 calories a day. In a year I lost 8 pounds. I hardly have sugar at all. So I'm not sure what will happen after the band

Everyone will lose weight at a different rate depending on a slew of issues age, sex, health, dna etc. you're doing fantastic. My surgery was 10/15 and I'm down 36lbs. Seems small to me but that's 36lbs in 10 weeks! You are just at 8 weeks that's amazing. Take in every success, last year I would have been up in weight from the holidays. I celebrate the loss!

Hey guys...I'm doing ok overall. Thanks to support on this website I know I will get through this along with the blessings of the good Lord. My only problem is I'm only getting about 25-30 grams of protein a day. I get this through eggs and kellogs strawberry protein shakes(10grams). I've tried isopure fruit juices and it just left a horrible taste and film in my mouth! Any one have any suggestions for additional protein. I'm so scared ill going to be protein deficient when its time to do labs.

Hi there, I ran into those sorts of problems from the beginning myself. I tried about every sort of Protein out there. I found the Syntrax Nectars to be exceptionally palatable. They are whey Protein Isolate - a better form of protein for those in our situations. The flavors available are great. They have several different lines, Matrix 2.0, Matrix 5.0, Syntrax Nectars, Naturals, Sweets. They have about the most flavors available. I really enjoyed their brand for fruity flavors. You can find them at www.syntrax.com I do not work for them or have anything to do with them other than being a customer of theirs. I found large 2lb canisters of the Nectars on eBay very reasonably priced about $28-$32 bucks. ($20 - $40 Less) than from the health stores. If you get tired of the fruity flavors and would like a little bit of warm Soup unjury has a chicken soup flavor that I would eat as a regular person (yes, i think it tastes that good), and their unflavored really does not add a flavor/aftertaste etc. you can find theirs at www.unjury.com I hope these help. Do the best that you can to get your protein in and don't worry too much. The doctors set up the guidelines and diets to help all of us learn to make better choices. Just remember that they are guidelines. Keep up the good work. sleeve date: Aug. 26, 2010 Charlene nectar Flavors: 23grams protein per scoop Apple Ecstasy, Caribbean Cooler, Crystal Sky, Fuzzy Navel, Lemon Tea, Pink Grapefruit, Roadside Lemonade, strawberry Kiwi or Twisted Cherry, Nectar™ Nectar Naturals Flavors: 23grams protein per scoop Nectar™ Naturals contains nothing artificial. This means no artificial colors, no artificial flavors and no artificial sweeteners. It also comes in unique flavors, such as Natural Fruit Punch, Natural Orange and Natural Peach. The Sweets are like deserts, chocolate truffle, strawberry mousse, vanilla bean torte etc. There are many more, these are just a few to give you an idea of what they have. I think the aftertaste of most protein supplements is probably the biggest turn off well that is other than the smell. I am very picky, and I really did try more than 20 different products. Two months before I even started the two week liquid died, I started trying a different product and flavor every day. I hope my being so picky can save you a little bit of time and trouble. I know that si03 (the company that makes the syntrax products) offers a trial package that contains like 12 individual servings of different flavors. I think it was about $14 or so.

Thank you all so much for your responses! I will try and postpone the surgery until the next week... I am one of those people that thinks I cand do it ALL... But I am really glad I have the opinion of others that know what to expect! I appreciate you all very much! Have a great day and I will post again once I have an official surgery date! Thanks - Holly

It amazes me how different everyone's plan is. I'm three days post op. Clear liquids until week 2, no protein shakes until day 8... purée starts week 5 and normal solids not until week 9! Band to SIPS/SA-DI/LOOP DS 8.8.17 HT: 5'6 HW: 242 SW: 226 CW: 221 GW: TBD

Surgery is 2 weeks from today. Soo excited to begin my journey. Wish I could find a sponsor to talk to everyday. Someone to understand the emotions I am experiencing and will be experiencing.

You need to get your head around that this is a life change...it is the start of something so positive and so rewarding....The surgery is daunting and so is the recovery and life with the band is different but It is so overwhelmingly worth every second....I am different to alot of people I still eat little bits of what I enjoy (that the band is ok with) but my portions are so so so much smaller than they ever were, I try to get low fat versions of my fave foods.....I lived on potato and leek soup the first three weeks.....It was so filling. Remember that the first few months is more about caring for the band rather than losing weight!!! good luck I wish you both so much happiness for the future!!

I have Anthem BCBS and the process went pretty quickly for me. I was scheduled for orientation on Jan 17 where they bring all of the weight loss surgery patients in together and talk about the surgery types, benefits, etc etc etc. At the orientation, we also took a 370 question Psych test that was reviewed by the psychologist prior to meeting. I was required to fax my insurance ID card in prior to attending the orientation so they could verify I was actually eligible for WLS. I was also mailed a large packet to have filled out and ready to submit on orientation day. After orientation, I was scheduled to come in over a period of two or three days to meet with the nutritionist, psychologist, nurse practitioner, and physical therapist. Some practices actually schedule patients to try and get all appointments required done in one or two days, since there are so many people to get clearance from. I also was required to get a sleep study done (surgeon requirement, not insurance). After completing all other steps, I met with the surgeon prior to approval submission. I was not required to do any supervised diet through insurance. I was submitted for pre-certification in early February and received approval in approx. two weeks. My surgeon only does banding on a certain day of the week and was booked through March for band dates. They worked with my time off schedule and I was able to go in as the first patient on a day when she usually does other types of WLS.

Wow! Im so nervous. I should find out my SD next week. Keeping my fingers crossed I pray that everything goes well.

Kellythestar!! U *should be* excited!!! This is the coolest thing for those of us who have struggled and yo-yo'd forever!!! I was sleeved 2/13/12 and, praise God and knock on wood, have had no problems. Sure the first couple days after were not a party but they were doable and soon u feel better & better every day!! Since the week b4 surgery til now I've lost 30# so believe me it will work for u and u will not have all that much hunger. Only periodically do I notice I'm a bit hungry which is prolly when I've gone more than 2-3 hrs without getting in some protein. U really aren't hungry and when u do eat, it is very minimal and u r so full!!! I love it!!! I'm excited for u and believe u r going to do great and recover fast!! Best wishes!!

I got my shakes at costco and they have 30g of protein, 1 g of sugar and 3g of fat!!! They are only 11 oz and they taste pretty good, so all u need is 2 a day!!! They're called Premier and are 24 for 18 of them. When I got my sleeve 4 weeks ago today, I needed a big pillow to rool out of bed or to cough and sneeze, I neded help showering the first 3 days, and I gad to go upstairs at the hospital and was fine with it I just had to do it slow. Also I would reccomend you get some sugar free jello because the broth and crystal light get boring after a couple of days. I also had some sugar free candy for when I had to take my antibiotic which tasted sooo nasty!!!!

I too live alone, but will be in the hospital for 2 days, after that I'm going to spend 2 days with my aunt then return home....I'm planning on stocking up the week before I have to go into the hospital and take some stuff to my aunts beforehand...after I come home my other aunt and uncle will be coming over and checking on me, so I have a supportative family...they are beginning to get excited for me...I am trying to start my pre-op diet 6 weeks early...I really dont want to lose 30 pounds before the procedure...

Me neither but I'm gonna order a few and try them. Sure would be convenient in those early weeks...

You sound like me, we worry about everyone else but us. But everyone else has no problem taking off leaving office short. I too had md give me notice for 4 weeks but I was only offf for one week. Take time you feel YOU need. its different for everyone. and check with your doctor. He should back you up, and isn't there union with Walmart?