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where do you live? I live in socal and I went to st. josephs hospital in orange, ca. my pcp referred me and my whole thing went for 6 weeks start to finish I wnt to the meeting 11/14/07 and was banded on 01/07/08.

He briefly looked at the incisions at week two and said fine to swim. I'm really thinking it was too soon. I used to do a mile well under 19 minutes but these days it's more like 30. I've been swimming 60/70 minutes straight no beaks. Plus I walk my dog a lot. I have an appt in the am but I'm pretty sure if I go he'll say it's fine and I'll have wasted my time. I'll decide in the am.

It took me about 10 days before I stopped having the gas, acid reflux and any type of pain or discomfort. You will get there, each day gets easier. Wishing you a speedy recovery!

I think i should start with a quick recap since I've change from lapbandtalk to vertical sleeve talk. Basically i had the Band placed on Sept 30 2011. I had dreamed of nothing but being best friends with my band, holding hands and skipping in the park, towards a healthier me, but the band had other ideas. We were the best Frenimies, it would push and shove while i held on for dear life, but i loved it for everything it represented: a new life, love, cute clothes. You can read some of my past entries to see just how dark and miserable and unhealthy i had become with the band. My hair was falling out, my nails were white and flaking off, i was pbing, sliming, and vomiting everyday. I had a developing food phobia, and i wasn't eating nor drinking enough so my grades suffered (in college), my body suffered and so did my sanity. The worst part, my weight was always within 10 pounds of my surgery day weight. it never moved past that. This past June i decided to see what could be done after getting so tired of being tired and sick. I made an appt with the surgeon on July 10th to discuss my options Had insurance papers submitted within the week Was approved shortly after and was scheduled for surgery August 30, 2012 One month short of my bandiversery. Its bitter sweet now. I'm 26 days post op, down to 243 from 251 (surgery day weight) I'm not hungry like i was with the band, but i do feel pain when i'm "empty" I'm always drinking, but sometimes i get so frustrated with being thirsty that i gulp a bit too much and regret it immediately. Today was the first time that I've thrown up with the VSG and i realized that i needed to blog again. I'm PMSing as well, so everything is bloated and tender (including incision sites) And I've hit that 3-4 week stall weight wise. I never know what too eat what i can eat what i'm allowed too eat so sometimes i just stay 'hungry' so i don't hurt anything. I have realized though, that the extreme decrease in food has made me rather lethargic, but when i do eat, i feel like its thanksgiving night, all full and sleepy (and slightly stretched) I'm assuming its part of A) being a woman , healing slowly , and C) not getting enough protein. The one upside i felt within the first week Post op is that i am so much happier! i think it was in part just the relief of having the band out of me. Before the band, Way back to when i was a kid, i Hated vomiting! so much so that i'd hold everything in, even if it made me feel worse. Having the band and throwing up everyday for 11 months just sucked. I'm still tired, but happy and healing. And wondering if there is a VSG shopping list, or approved food list, Someone to please tell me what and when to EAT!

Hey there folks. Names Jeff, from Ohio. 32, 6' 5" 429lbs -- band date of 12/5/07, and I am really nervous. Actually I think I am more nervous because of the operation, never had one before. The preop diet is a killer, on 4 SlimFast shakes a day (nothing else) for 2 weeks :faint:but only a week left. Fought with my weight as long as I can remember, and been on almost every diet known to man, even the fad lose 10 lbs in 1 day stuff :rolleyes. But I wanted to introduce myself, and say howdy, love the site and I hope to post a lot more good news!!!

Hello, I had my surgery 7-15-2019. I am starting to eat purée foods. I seem to not be really hungry, but I have been able to get almost 1000 calories down each day. Is that to many calories? I don’t want to harm my stomach, and I don’t want to stretch it out either. I am tolerating all of it...in fact it almost seems to easy to eat.

Hi:) I had the gastric sleeve is 2012. Great success! I went from 353 to 167. Maintained weight till 2015 when we lost our baby boy. Four months after lose I became pregnant. Our rainbow was born 2016. A week after her turned one, I found out we were expecting again. Brings me to 2019 I have three beautiful kids and I weigh 363lbs On 10/16/19 I had my sleeve converted to gastric bypass. Recovery is definitely rougher than the sleeve but hanging in there. From my pre-op diet and the first two weeks postop I now weigh 334. was just reaching out to see if anyone could share their success stories as I so badly want to be healthy again and lose all this excess weight. thanks so much

Yes I do feel guilty that I cheated, but AGAIN right now it's hard cuz I don't have a band and not eating for 10 days is hard. Ok timmmers since you know so much then tell me how the people that didn't have a pre op diet and the people that did cheat get the band.

I am only a few weeks post-op and eat alot I feel... but still so much less than I used to. I too am worried about stretching but know as I get adjusted my portion sizes will continue to decrease to that of the ideal bandster. I suggest nutrisystem to help get portions under control. I try and eat 3/4 of the nutrisystem meal... between 4-6 oz. I know I can fit the whole 7-10 oz. but when I take my time the 4-6 can fill me up. My dietician reccommends the whole wheat options as well. Moderation is key. For example, if I have the whole wheat bread at SubWay, I can dig out some of the extra bread and supplement it with some more veggies. Shopping at the grocery store has been a nightmare to make sure it is WHOLE GRAIN... not multi-grain, or enriched wheat flour, or things that are there to trick you to into thinking its good.

at two years out, she should be getting double the number of calories she's getting now (if not more - depends on her height, weight, activity level, etc) - unless she's super short or has really screwed up metabolism or something. 662 calories is only common in the first few months after surgery, not at two years out. re: the 10 lb gain, most of us gain 10-20 lbs after hitting our lowest weight, so that's not uncommon. It's almost expected...(not inevitable, but it happens to most people) protein - most of us are encouraged to get 60-80 grams a day. I need 100, but that's because we discovered early on that I malabsorb it - my prealbumin level tanks if I don't get that much. But I'm not the norm. 300 is crazy. No one needs that much - not even body builders. That's so weird that the app is telling her that!! you mentioned an RD - might be a good idea for her to see one to get some good advice and guidelines on what/how she should be eating. She may have some issues that we don't necessarily know about (like me and my protein issue....)

I'm all for the pregnant parking. I actually asked a police officer if I could park in a HC spot because I was carrying my 10 lb. baby at the time. It was all I could do to shop. The pram parking? I used a grocery cart.

I came home on day 4 post op. started walking on day 5. I had some complications from surgery so my first walks have only been a few houses down and then back. I'm not up to a mile a day, but doing 30 minutes. Just splitting mine up into different times..10 here...10 there. Good luck to you oh I am now 9 days post op.

My weight has been stable but my size isn't. I guess due to exercise / weight training. My size 4 pants are loose. I hesitate to say I'm a size 2. I read folks in maintenance will level off and regain 10-15 pounds. How true that is?? I don't know but if it is, when will it?? I'm investing heavily in a new wardrobe and really would hate to end up with a closet full of "One day I'll get back to that size" clothes again

I am 11 days post op. I am still wondering if this is gonna work? Anyone else have that? I have PCOS and nothing ever worked. I really don't want to be disappointed with this. It's a huge change. I've list 10 lb total since surgery and I know that is great I was just hoping to be one of those 40 lb loss in the first month girls ya know.

My 20 year reunion is in the plans for next July.....I am THRILLED to have just had this surgery - I will be SPECTACULAR and FIERCE by next summer!!! I did attend my 10 year.....at about 285 and a size 22....I am so looking forward to seeing all my old buddies again...even if I have most of them on facebook!

I was at 150 for about 2-3 years (my lowest point was 138, but it gradually went back up and I settled at 150 for a very long time - which was great because I think 138 was way too low for me. I could see every rib and my face looked awful. 150 was actually the perfect weight for me). But last fall I was abroad for the whole month of October, and then came back in time for the holidays. By the first of January, I was at 160. And freaked. I've been really working at getting that off because I want to be back down to 150, but it is S-L-O-W going - about 1-2 lbs a month. But since I am, according to the BMI chart, 3 to 4 lbs "overweight" (depending on the day), I wasn't too surprised by that. So hopefully by July or so I'll be back to where I want to be. a word to the wise - once you get to where you want to be, do whatever you can to avoid gaining weight. It is a b*tch to take off, even if it's just 5 or 10 lbs! (I used to roll my eyes at these normal weight or slightly overweight women who would complain about how hard it was to lose five lbs. HA! I could have done that in a weekend! But now I get it...)

When someone out of the blue asks me, "have you lost weight?", that makes me feel good. It meas since they've seen me last, they can possibly tell I've lost a few pounds. But when the same people ask me almost daily or weekly, "how much weight have you lost now", it really gets under my skin:angry_smile:. I smile and say, "I haven't weighed since last week so I don't know of any more". Because I do honestly only weigh once a week. But it gets so discouraging when I've only lost 1 pound or possible none and they keep asking every week. I was very open with friends, family and co-workers about having my surgery. Everyone I associate with regularly knew about me having the surgery and they all were very supportive. I know they are just curious as to how much I've lost and I know deep down they really do care about me in my weight loss journey. But it drives me insane some days when they keep asking. If it were only one or two a day I don't think it would bother me. But I'm talking about 5-10 people ask me daily. I'm trying to be the nice person I think I am (haha) and smile :biggrin2: and not snap back at them but I'm starting to lose my patience. I promise I will never ask anyone again how much weight have they lost. If I'm being totally unreasonable in thinking this, please someone tell me so. Or if you agree and feel the way I do, let me know I'm not the only one.

I have a "no numbers" policy. I've told everyone up front that I'm not going to give numbers. So, they don't ask me. Giving numbers is just too stressful. It would be fun when you are losing 10-20 lbs a month, but once you level off, or hit a plateau, it would feel like such a letdown to tell someone and have them look dissapointed. I'm not offended when someone asks. I'm happy that they noticed and care enough about me to want to know. But, that doesn't mean that I want to tell them. :w00t: I do like the "a few sizes" reply, though. My reply just makes people start to apologize for being rude - which isn't what I intended. A softer way to evade the question would be a good thing for people I don't know as well.

We're leaving for a 7 day Alaskan cruise on Monday! Already have my snack bag packed for the 8 hr drive to Seattle (almonds, Cheerios, jerky and a cooler for yogurt and water). Our last 3 cruises, I was banded and never gained any weight. This time tho I'm totally unfilled (slipped last month, awaiting a revision to sleeve in late June) and I've gained a few lbs since being unfilled. I've noticed tho that my stomach hurts really bad for about 24 hrs and I have to be on liquids for 2-3 days when I overdo (like I did 1 day last week) so I'm hoping that will deter me from eating too much. Anyone who's been on a cruise probably know what I'm talking about! Access to food 24 hrs a day. I plan on going to the gym everyday tho! And walking around in all the ports. Hoping that I don't gain. If I come back to my drs appt on May 22nd without having gained 10 lbs since the last time I was at the drs a few months ago, I'll be happy! Being totally unfilled for months and having gained only 10 lbs is a feat in itself, I think! Wish me luck! Marci

Seemed like such a long wait is finally over! Went well, had a large hiatal hernia that was also fixed. Not a bad night until IV started beeping and needing new tube, etc., but otherwise doing pretty good. One thing is getting the hiccups when I drink just a little or a little air and then the pain throughout the chest is upped about 10 fold, but they don't last long. Love my ice chips. I just hope all those February sleevers I have been chatting with are doing equally as well and will talk more soon. So happy to be postop.

Thanks for asking....I"m doing ok. I haven't lost a lot of weight because my new doc hasn't put in a very big fill. I have lost some, though - about 10 pounds. He's going slowly and I haven't returned to get another fill in a while because he makes me wait for two hours after my appt time before seeing me and then I get a lecture for about 20 minutes - no, I'm not exaggerating - about how I'm addicted to carbs and I must eat less than 30 grams of carbs a day if I ever hope to lose weight. It's a long story - but the man is absolutely OBSESSED with living la vida low-carb and thinks carbs are of the devil -and- that I am his willing servant if I ever let even one gram of the wretched stuff touch my lips. (Whatever, dude. Not all carbs are the same. It's not like I got fat eating apples, kwim? And they are full of carbs. It's the carb/fat combo you got to look out for - it's not the apples, it's the apple pie) I'm wating for a day off to go see him again. I can't work all day with petulant teenagers all day and then go sit in his waiting room for two hours and then listen to a lecture that I've heard at least a dozen times before. Nope. Can't. I'm wating for christmas break to go for another fill. Then, maybe I'll see better weight loss.

I feel your pain. I just got my date for bypass on 10/24. After 1 year of insurance hoop jumping Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I quit smoking with the patch 10 years ago, after smoking 2 packs/day for 17 years. I don't miss it, never even had a craving after the first 3 months. Back then, a pack cost around $2, a carton was $16. Anyone know what they cost these days?

Sam's has a wonderful sf popsicle that comes in a blue box of 40 count. Sorry, but I can't remember the name. They are only 10 calories and come in a variety pack of orange, strawberry, and I believe raspberry, but the best thing is that the ice is very similar to the shaved ice sno cones, very soft and not crunchy...very yummy!

Sounds to me like you are suffering from regular post op pains .... and guilt! 4 days post op your stomach will still be swollen, the stitches to hold the band in cause pain till they heal and the gas that they use during surgery to expand your abdomen settles under your diaphragm and causes pain for anything up to 10 - 14 days, maybe less. Eating all that stuff so soon is not wise but i am sure it shouldn't cause any major damage unless you ate until you threw up. If you are concerned, the best thing is to ring your surgeon, you will feel awful having to tell them you jumped the gun on mushies but it is better than getting sick if there is a problem. As for you BM's anything goes post op as your body adjusts. I was constipated for about 4 weeks, others suffer from what you described. Think about how you feel now if you are tempted again. Maybe you need to only buy things as you are able to eat them so they are not sitting in the pantry tempting you. I know what it is like, it is there, you want it and it is on your mind until you can resist no longer! (this is why i needed the band) Good luck.