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I want to back out I’m so scared of having my SVG surgery in 2 days. My doctor is going to be upset at me. I have Gerd now and I’m afraid to have it later. I don’t want to go through another surgery afterwards. If I were to do the sleeve would I need another surgery 10 to 20 years down the line?

Debi, I started at 352, and the first thing I lost was my undies. That took a little over a month to happen. Then it seemed like forever before my clothes started getting really baggy. I dropped a pants size at the end of December, and bought new pants two weeks ago. I'm really glad I didn't go crazy on buying clothes, though, because those pants are already baggy on me. I haven't lost/gained anything since a 10 pound dump early in the month, but my pants are getting way too big. I'm at 271 now and I'll be buying new pants in the next two weeks...or at least new to me pants. You will probably follow the same pattern, with weight dropping but not sizes until you hit a "stall" for a few days, then you'll walk out of your pants, or have a shirt fall off your shoulder. It's irritating, but thrilling, too! Good luck, although you're doing great!!

Wow - I agree with the others. You look at least 10 years younger now! Congrats on the 80 lbs weight loss!!!!

I've found that it helps to have pictures taken. I used to always cringe inside when someone flashed a camera in my direction. Now, however, I think it really helps my mind grasp that my body really HAS changed. It's hard to change our internal view of how we "look". When I was a teenager, I lost 115 pounds on Nutrisystem. I really never did feel a "normal" size, even though I was down to a 10/12. We just came back from a vacation in Puerto Rico. I've never felt SO GOOD wearing shorts and a tee shirt. I'm just into size 18, but wow! I know I'm not skinny, but in looking at the photos, I know I am looking healthier. And it was really odd to realize that I wasn't the largest gal in our group. (It was a work trip for the hubs and 60 other of his co-workers and their spouses.) Anyhow, photos do help. It's kind of a wake up slap to your brain that you HAVE changed!!

I have lost 50 pounds and I am now in Onederland which is wonderful. I receive numerous compliments daily on how awesome I am looking. I do notice it when I look in the mirror, but problem is, I still see a fat person. When I was wearing a 20w, I would think how awesome it would be if I could just get into a size 16. Well, I am now in a size 16 and now I am thinking...if I could just get into a size 10, I would be satisfied. My goal weight was 170...now I am thinking that is not low enough. Does this thinking ever stop. Will I ever be satisfied with where my weight is at? I am just wondering when you veteran sleevers KNEW that you had reached your ultimate goal.

I know im having mixed emotions too. I am not good with pain. I dont like pain meds maybe the liquid iv one lol. The one I will take at home I dont care for too much. I will ask him in the morning if he would switch me. Actually I had the bypass on July 17. Revision was on July 19. He will look to discharge me tomorrow after my primary doctor sees me iamready4this

I've decided not to tell work. I'm using vacation time and taking 10 working days. I'm a database manager and work from home. I've only told family. I know it's no one's business, but I still don't want to hear the negative comments as I'm getting ready for surgery on 9/13. ....only positive vibes right now. I may change my mind after surgery and healed a bit. Just not sure.

Hello James, Thank you so much for sharing that information. It was very informative and you look great. It has been 10 months for me since I had gastric bypass and have many challenges. I am definitely going to keep this maintain a phase in mind. I am in my goal weight due to TPN that I receive because before I was underweight due to all my complications. I have gained a few pounds but I am where I am suppose to me. I still having problems keeping food down most of the time. I wonder if I am doing something wrong.

I am 10 years out from my sleeve surgery. I came to give an update (I used to love them when I was new!) and a warning. Update - I weighed 275 at surgery and now weigh 177. My weight varies within a 5 pound window. I don't worry about it, don't think about it, and rarely weigh except at the doctors office. It took several years to relax and get to the point of stepping away from the scales. My stomach has not stretched. I can eat approx 1/3 to 1/2 cup at a time and eat 4 or 5 times a day. Cautionary tale - I have eaten as I was told to do, always putting protein first. I take vitamins. I try to go for nutritious veggies after protein. After 2 years of feeling awful I now know that I AM MINERAL DEFICIENT! It's a long story about how I found out, but I now have concrete results from hair tissue mineral analysis plus extensive blood work. Mineral deficiencies are rampant in the population, not just bariatric patients, but we are more susceptible due to our diets. Our soils are depleted of minerals so our food is as well. It's not just about, for example, being calcium deficient. It's about the ratio of all the essential minerals like magnesium, iron, etc. They have to be in balance for them to work. So taking calcium supplements or iron or whatever aren't doing any good if the rest isn't there for them to work with. (hope that made a little sense) You aren't going to hear this from most doctors, it usually takes a functional doctor to be willing to dive into this. One symptom was passing out whenever I got hot. I was taken by ambulance to the hospital twice for this. My "regular" doctor kept telling me I was dehydrated and to take potassium. (Note: I still drink 100 oz a day since surgery, how am I dehydrated). He was looking at basic blood work. Under his treatment I got worse. Once I had all the tests done, I have almost too much potassium but practically no magnesium and low salt, both are needed to interact with the potassium. Good news - This can be reversed. I am telling everyone I know to start supplementing trace minerals. It's easy, I use a few drops of trace mineral concentrate in my water all day. Due to my deficiencies I take some other mineral supplements but that is the main secret sauce. And it's so easy! I feel like I have come back to life!! That's probably way more than you wanted to know. I'll be quiet now. LOL I just hope I help to keep someone else from going down this path.

Thanks so much for all the words of encouragement! I am 10 weeks out! I always get down like this after I have several days in a row of what I call "food hates me days" It's Water, it's anything i put in my mouth! I get frustrated and exhausted! No I do not eat late at night! I try to stay on the eat a little bit every 3 hours rule. I try to follow the rules. when it doesn't work that's when I get whiny and frustrated! I knew you guys here would have words to get me out of this funk! You are all correct!

@@newlifeb I am so sorry to hear of your pain, I have 10 days to go my surgery is scheduled for the 17th. I'm so new at this I have no advice to give.. Did you do everything you were supposed to, drinking your clear liquids? How's that working for you now, are you holding anything down or vomiting at all?

I'm feeling good now. I lost 20 lbs originally, but now my body is in the dreaded 3-week stall. The Japanese docs insist on a slightly longer post-op diet--two weeks of thin liquids followed by two of thicker. Currently, I'm drinking fruit/yogurt smoothies for Breakfast and lunch, and blender-processed Soup or curry for dinner. The smoothies can be bought at local convenience stores, and I supplement them with whey Protein. I'll be really happy when I'm allowed to eat soft solids again in 10 days. As for exercise, my NUT is really insisting on anaerobic exercise, not walking or biking. He's prescribed me a testosterone infused lipid blocker (called Lipokine), and in a couple weeks, he wants to start testosterone steroid injections. He really wants me to pick up as much muscle as I can while I shed weight .The idea is that he doesn't want me looking like a normal guy wearing a big suit of flappy skin (and I don't want that either). So, long story short, yes, I'm able to do weightlifting, but only as long as I focus on back/biceps, chest/triceps, and legs/shoulders. No abdominal exercises yet, and if anything is remotely painful for my stomach, I'm supposed to stop doing that right away. I used to live in Stuttgart when I was younger, so I know what you're talking about. It's been strange living in Japan for the past 8 years, always being (as you say) the fattest person in the room. The nice thing about being a foreigner in Japan, however, is that no matter what, you're always going to be the strangest person in the room simply because you're not Japanese. Being fat in Japan is like having a slightly more ridiculous clown nose to go with the rest of the clown outfit that all foreigners are imagined to wear. Japanese people aren't too shy to point out the fact that I weigh too much--they commonly ask my weight and openly wonder if American food did this too me--but they don't do it judgmentally at all. They seem to like the distinctiveness that I bring into their ordinary world. I had an attractive Japanese gf for a year who loved my body shape. Most of my friends here are fellow foreigners, from the US, Aus, GB or Canada. However, I have few Japanese friends too. I'd have more J-friends, but I'm not all that social and am rarely interested in the things they're typically interested in, e.g. Japanese pop-music, television, baseball or soccer.

I am 10 days Post Op. I have lost 18 pounds. I was told to continue on thickened liquids and Protein drinks. I cannot drink the Protein Drinks and dont like any of the thickened liquids...Can anyone give me some advice. Thanks Monica

I'm also being banded March 10. The only liguid I have been having any luck with choking down is ISOPURE. I get it online from GNC. Each bottle has 40g of protein and some of the flavors taste pretty good. Good luck.

Hi There, I live in Southern Calif. too... I see my primary tomorrow and my insurance has a list of specialists also. I pray they are good ones to chose from. I was given Dr. Fobi's name from a girl at the grocery store. She had gastric bypass. Unsure if I want to do that... I've heard great success stories about lap band procedure. I'm Type II and on Lantus now. It has made me gain over 10 pounds since April. I can't wear my "skinny" jeans anymore. I'm 5'4 and 230 lbs. as of this morning. Very small on the bottom and I can wear 14W or 16W, but the top portion of my body is 2x or 20W. What made you decide on lap band? I don't eat a lot during the day or night, but I believe my Type II and now taking insulin has made my body resistant to losing 60 lbs. I'm frustrated. I've been thinking about WLS for years now. Plan to talk to my primary tomorrow. This will probably be the most important visit I've ever had with her.

My experience, and this is mines and no one else so, take this information at your own risk. First time I had a drink of alcohol was literally 10 days post surgery. It was new years eve and I had like two sips of super cheap champagne and I was very tipsy right away. I didn't have another drink of alcohol of any kind until a good year after that event. What I have noticed that with drinking is that it does depend on the drink that I am consuming and I can go from tipsy, to buzzed very quickly depending on the drink and strength of said drink. Shots (tequila, rum, and whiskey) are indeed one shot and done sort of drinks for me now. If I go beyond one of those, which I think the most I have had so far almost two years out of surgery was 3 shots in one evening within a 15 minute span of consuming all three shots, and I was very buzzed (lightly drunk). It took about an half and hour to an hours for that buzz to go away where I could feel "normal" again. What I have learned is that if I pace myself, usually only stick to one or two drinks max (on the hard stuff listed above), and sip them very slowly and moderately, that I can be alright. But again a mixed drink will now last me damn near an entire night vs pre surgery I could have K.O'ed quite a few of them before even feeling remotely buzzed let alone intoxicated. I personally don't like the get buzzed "high" quick feeling that drinking gives me especially if I am out at like a bar/public environment vs at home or at a trusted friends home. When I am out, I will stick to drinks like hard ciders or dare I say a Mike's Hard Lemonades sort of drink. Beer I really don't drink much of anymore and when I do its usually a stout and again only 1 now. Stouts tend to be heavier beers than your light lagers, and with more yeast and hops makes for a more fuller tummy experience. Wine, I just had recently for the first time in years, it was a dry red wine and it did have a bit of the buzzy feeling to it but it was like 4oz and it took me a good 30 minutes to consume it. Tequila, especially patron, 1 and done. I know if I go beyond that then I'll be in some troubles. Now I will be two years post op this Dec, and I can say that in the time post surgery I can still say that I have had less than 10 drinks in that time frame. I know how drinking for some of us can be a slippery slop to leading towards unwanted addictions and coping mechanisms. I get that, and I think its why I choose to wait so long to attempt to drink anything post surgery, especially after the NYE thing. But it is something that I have learned to enjoy, just on very special occasions and in the right situations.

12 years out. I had several blood transfusions after my WLS so I had big regrets. The issue was that I replaced food with alcohol (was not a drinker prior to WLS) 3 years ago I got my sh*t together and got serious about supplements and started Keto. I am now at a healthy weight 145 and plan to eventually get back down to my lowest weight (135) which was pre covid. I gained 10 pounds when the lockdown started. I don't regret the surgery as much now as most if not all the issues I had were avoidable and just really my fault for not following the post op way of life.

I had incisional pain in the first two days, then I had stomach pain like cramps or something like this till day #9. So I would say 10 days to two weeks then you will be pain free.

I have my surgery on 10/1. I just started my prep diet this morning. I've already made my basic clothing selections based on the weather forecast for Mexico. I'm just flat excited to get this journey underway!!!!!!!!!!

At GNC you can buy just 1 of each flavor in their refrigerator section, or by 4 pack or case. I started out with 1 of each flavor & quickly went back for more. Of course like someone else stated Protein shake tasted are very person specific! Good luck & let me know what you think of them Oh & a GNC bonus, if you sign up for their free discount card you get a 10% or 20% discount(I forget which sorry) the first week of every month!

I had 2 Protein flavors, one watermelon, one coffee looking back I wish I had 3, and an unflavored protein. I added the unflavored to anything, but mostly broth. I had already been on a 10 day liquid diet, so it wasn't so bad. If you have the urge to chew, chew on ice or Jello. Jello worked for me, if you have an unflavored Protein powder then add some of that to the jello for protein jello. I did liquids longer, because I didn't want to do purees, I knew the texture would make me nauseous.

WoW WoW !! Very inspiring !! I want to be like u when I grow up !! LoL !! Banded 4/6/2012 looking forward to 10 months from now !!

I had my surgery 10 months ago today. If you would have told me then that I'd be writing this post today celebrating 122.6 pounds down i would have said you were crazy - that would be way too good to be true! BUT GUESS WHAT IT'S TRUE!!!!!! Thank you all for your support and info over this year - you are wonderful!!!!! BEST OF LUCK TO US ALL ON OUR JOURNEYS!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had my surgery on Jan 25 as well in San Antonio. I am about 10 min from the Austin TR office. I am not feeling too much gas pain, but have some pretty bad incision pain that just won't go away. I am very glad that I don't have to go back to work until Wednesday! Glad to see some other ATX TR people in this forum!

Banded 10/31/2011, down 80+ pounds.