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Hi, I had Roux-en-y surgery in Oct 2009. At 5'1", I weighed 194 pounds. I got to 132 pounds, a place I was very comfortable at, although 125 would probably be better. I maintained my weight for the first 3-1/2 years, but over the past 6 or so months, I have put on 10-12 pounds. I haven't been separating my liquids and solids probably since the beginning and without realizing it, I was dumping much more than I should have, and I worry that I may have stretched my pouch a bit. Looking for support and am more than willing to offer my support to anyone!

Hello all! I'm just starting my research into the lap band procedure and am attending a seminar at the end of the month. I will be 33 in July and have 3 children under 3. I have struggled with weight all of my life and am at my highest weight now (I'm guessing 260 but haven't been on a scale in 5 months since I gave birth to my daughter). Anyway, our insurance says "Not Applicable" under bariatric surgery. But there are some things listed as "Not covered." Does anyone have any experience with this or know if it's possible to get it covered when the insurance says "N/A" under coverage? I'm afraid to get my hopes up.

hey guys ummm gals hehe thank for the replies it did ease my nervousness.....the operation was great, i stayed 4 days in the hospital, im 16 days post VSG and its hard but im managing......just the very little weight loss is what is stumping me a bit but im persevering. and good luck to all of you

Thanks everyone! I had to cut the post short this morning because I was running late, but now that I'm back I can post more. My husband is doing weight loss surgery with me, but he's getting a band instead of a sleeve. I'm glad I have support and while I do wish he'd do the sleeve with me, I'm not going to make him do something that he's not comfortable doing.

Hi...I'm at an impasse on my weight loss and feel like I've been stuck for over a year. I'm looking for suggestions, support, weight loss ideas, and someone to talk to who understands. I was banded in July 2006. I only had 75 lbs to lose, successfully lost about 60, and seem to be backtracking. :rolleyes2: I'm at 55lbs lost and can't seem to get back on the right track. I have a 4 CC band, which is only filled to 3.2 CC's (I think that was the last amount it was filled to.) I've posted another thread on a different topic so if you happen to see this, please check my other thread. Thanks so much and I look forward to speaking with any/all of you! Have a blessed day! Ladyshy78

ladyshy78-I wish I had some ideas, tips, suggestions to help you out. But, I'm actually in the same boat as you - maybe a little worse, as far as success goes. I was banded May 2007 and have only lost the 12-15 pounds I lost during the pre-op pahse. I have not lost NOR GAINED 1 shittin' pound since surgery. This is very disappointing, discouraging, depressing, etc. I know how you feel - it's tough to go through WLS and then not have near the success it seems everyone else in the world is having. I feel like a total failure. You have lost a significant amount of weight, though - Good for you. It's such an uphill battle for me, for most of us, and many times I feel like I'm rolling down the hill at a fast pace. I find that I have to take my life hour by hour - not day by day, as that's too overwhelming - I can really screw up my eating in 24 hrs time! Don't give up -- (easier said than done, I know first hand). I am thankful that I haven't gained, but very upset that I haven't lost. I truly wish you the best of luck. We can chat whenever you need to, though I'm not exactly a bundle of joy or queen of successes. lol

Welcome. I have some questions: What are you eating now? Are you keeping a food journal? Are you able to eat proteins/meat without problems? How much are you able to eat at each meal? If you evaluate you answers to these questions it will show whether you are still a little tight and need a slight unfill or if it is time to get a fill. You may want to do the 5 day pouch test to get started again. This should help you jump start weight loss and get back into eating like a bandie.:smile2: Surgical Weight Loss 5 Day Pouch Test

Hello! I've been researching information about the lap-band and feel very strongly about having the procedure done. I'm 32 yrs old, 4'11 and weigh 220 lbs, this is a lot of weight especially for my height!!! I haven't always been overweight, it seems after the birth of my daughter 12 yrs ago, the weight kept piling on. I've tried several diets and even taken pills to loss the weight but i would only drop about 10 lbs average. I know some of you can relate but I'm really ready for a change and hopefully become successful in achieving my goal....................

That is good I found someone that is the same weight as i am,when i went to the seminars they would say to me why are you doing this you are not big enough,but being short makes a big difference.I will be getting my date at the end of june..I am nervous and excited all at the same time..Good Luck!!!

My UHC plan is great too...but they also only cover one weight loss surgery as well =\ That's better than nothing though!

Going to the seminar on the 20th. I want this so bad. I have been over weight since I was a teenager. I'm 5 3 and I weigh 220. I have lost weight in the past but gained it back and then some.

Thank you Shirley and Schell, I appreciate the replies...your right Shirley it is better then gaining, so I'm not going to get discouraged . I don't eat a lot of carbs any more, not like I use to anyways...but I still eat them...I'm thinking of trying the gluten free diet and see how that works for me. Hugs~Pattie

Congrats on the loss ! Even if your not to happy with it. A loss is a Loss, it's better then a Gain..

Hi I stumbled across this forum whilst doing a search about regurgitation and coughing! I have been looking for just this type of place in vain for a while. THe post op care I get here in France is pretty minimal and I have so many questions! I am a 37 SWF who lives in south-west France. I had a gastric band fitted last August and have lost 30 kilos to date. I only started losing weight after my 3rd fill at Christmas. I have had quite a few problems with the band but I have lost lots of weight so I can't really complain. I am plateaued out at the moment but this is pretty self-enforced as I have been trying to feed myself up a bit after nearly passing out from malnutrition!!! Anyway, I am looking forward to looking up all my problems and hopefully helping some people out with theirs too. Charlotte

Hello everyone! I am introducing myself to this forum for the very first time as a member; I have been a lurker for over a year, and I have to say that many of you have been so inspiring and helpful in my decision to get my surgery, and have been a helping hand (without knowing it!) through all of my pre-and-post op trials and tribulations. So, for that I am 100% grateful for your honesty about your stories and how supportive you are to one another. I am not much of a social person in my real life, so joining this forum is just another one of the lifestyle changes I am making to continue on a path to success. My name is Amy, a 28 year old student nurse from CT. I am happily married for 9 years to the love of my life Jorge, and we have a beautiful handful of a 2 year old name Jillian. I have struggled with my weight for most of my life, as many of you have. Even when I was younger and weighed my (now) goal weight, I was always teased for my size and thought of myself as the dreaded F-A-T girl. Many people say "wow, I wish I knew back then how thin I actually was" but in reality, a 12 year old at 150 lbs carries herself much differently than a woman of the same weight. So of course, like many, I was barraged with insults and self-esteem issues from a young age--and as anyone who has been there can vouch, food can sometimes be your only friend. Even with my size of 250 lbs at age 26, I was an active and healthy woman. I had recently lost 30 lbs (down from 280) and boom--after 7 years of trying while combating the dreaded PCOS, I finally got pregnant with my miracle baby! However, as little girls tend to "steal their mom's beauty" she definitely changed my body. Unfortunately my health started to deteriorate shortly after giving birth, and I found that my gestational diabetes decided to stick around for the long haul. I delivered at 315 lbs. I never realized until I saw pictures how big I really was. I do believe that body dismorphia is more common than we think and is not just for those who have anorexia...I would look in the mirror and say "wow, I look really nice today, and my clothes fit perfectly" and see pictures of that day and see a person I do not recognize. I decided to look into a surgical option after many failed attempts at low-carb, weight watchers, paleo, portion control--you name it. My sugar, my hormones, and eventually my blood pressure and heart were all out of wack. That's when I met Dr T. and his team at Backus Hospital in Norwich, CT, and they started started me on a track to a brand new life. I am currently 3 weeks post op gastric bypass, down 30 lbs (20 lbs since my surgery date), and I am ready to be part of this wonderful community of brave men and women who are fighting the good fight as I am. I am having minor complications with getting my nutrition, but I hope to rectify this by reading your threads and getting good advice. Thank you all for taking the time to read this novel. I cannot wait to take this journey with you all. Sincerily, Amy

Wow, it looks like you both are already on your way to losing tons of weight. Congrats! I can't wait to be in your shoes. Thanks for welcoming me.

I guess I'm still swollen since I have no fill yet and I'm not hungry. I really can only eat about 2 tablespoons of creamed Soup and feel gentle pressure if I eat more. I am trying to get my Water in. I was banded on May 12th. I get my first fill in a month. I hope I don't die of hunger in a week or so when the swelling goes down! Will I be able to Bear it? I've heard of people who still lose significant weight before a fill. I've lost 10 lbs since Mother's Day but that included 1 day of Clear liquids and so far the rest have been "full" liquids---Soups, Protein shakes, etc. i just don't want the Hunger To come back. My hunger is like an Evil Monster that follows me around and haunts me all day long---it's been such a sweet dream to not be Starving the last week. It's so freaking awesome! Thanks to everyone who takes the time to post answers and comments--it's really generous and helpful! I haven't figured out the ticker thing yet. Here's my numbers: highest weight--in the Fall during testing ---205 Before liquid diet for 3 days ---------------------197 today (5 days past surgery) ---------------------187 I'm very short and 187 looks much bigger on me. I am very excited to be on this journey. i can feel this is the right path! yay. hugs to all, BandedKitten

I am going through the same worries. I have been banded 9 months and have only lost about 30lbs. I just started to journal and I will see how well this works. If I can't lose weight eating properly and exercising then there is something else seriously wrong with me. I have a feeling I need to buckle down and use my band to work for me. Look at the positive side you aren't gaining.

Hi Ms RoJacks! First, let me congratulate you on being banded - where did you get your surgery done? I live in Norwich, but was banded at Yale New Haven Hospital (I work at Yale). Please don't move ahead to thicker liquids or solid food unless your doctor's orders say it's okay. You are still healing, and it's important to follow doc's orders while that is going on. You don't want to have ANY kind of problems right now - and I know it's hard, but it will help you in the long run. I'm glad you're not having hunger problems - I was hungry all the time, even after I was banded! :smile: I'm doing much better now - approaching my 1 year bandiversary (in 6 days) and down over 70 lbs. My goal was to have lost 100 by now, but I'm still really happy with what I've achieved. I hope that your fiancee is able to get the help he needs to conquer his alcoholism - it will make it very difficult for him if he's at all insecure or uncertain about your progress and your getting healthy. Please take good care of yourself, and if you have questions, don't hesitate to ask. I also suggest you talk to your doctor and their support staff often - don't do this alone. The doc and his staff know your situation best - listen to them! Once you get the clearance to exercise, do what you can - walking is great. I lost the majority of my weight with walking - I started running about 3 months ago, and ran my first 5k race in October. Something I NEVER thought I'd do when I was heavier. Find ways to occupy your time that don't include food - now is the time to break old habits and establish new, healthy ones. Good luck and blessings to you! :tongue_smilie:

Yay for you! Good job on preop weight...be prepared if you get on the scale tomorrow you may have some weight gain, just fluids drops off quickly. I was sleeved on the 19th and i am down 10 since surgery. Had pintos n cheese, frozen yogurt and lemadelines tomato soup today. Plus a protein shake....was a good day. Besides the acid reflux which i know will go away this is the best thing ever...you will see....we are on our way! ~kris

Congratulations on your new date. Also congratulations on losing 50 lbs. Way to go! You already are a lot healthier with your 50 lb weight loss. You'll be even more healthy once you get the band and lose even more weight. I'm a few days in front of you. My surgery is this Friday, 9/17/10, just 2 days away! I'm nervous and exciting! Your surgery date is right around the corner, too. Best of luck to you!

me also...I am 3 1/2 month post op and I am starving...I have lost 60 lb now but no weight loss in the past 3 weeks because I think I'm cheating....,I'm sick about it but I'm so damn hungry..... join the gym...now have to start going...need to be busy so I don't dwell so much on it... very depressed about it....anyway...I feel for u...it sucks....where r u at....I am in California....

Thanks so much for the reply. I will definitely message you oh and I'm having my surgery at Hillcrest Hospital in Greenville SC Can I ask what was has been your average weight loss?

My story is probably very similar to many people on this site; fat guy can't lose weight, tries new diet, loses some, gains more back, rinse and repeat. Several people in my life have had bariatric surgery, to include my wife and daughter. After yet one more failed attempt to lose weight, I finally decided to go for it. My weight was averaging around 248 before going through the process; on surgery day I was 236. My BMI was under the recommended 40, but nature felt the need to bestow me with the quartet of comorbidities; high bp, high cholesterol, sleep apnea and diabetes (didn’t know I had this until they did the blood work for my surgery). I had surgery on 29 January 2014, and have been progressing at a really good pace. My doctor didn’t want to put me on diabetes medicination because I was so close to surgery; he wanted to see what the numbers looked like after. On surgery morning my blood sugar numbers were crazy high, 276, on 16 February, 18 days after surgery, my sugar levels were 90. I’m very happy about that. I’ve lost 24 lbs in 20 days, that also makes me happy. I’m also averaging 1 to 1.5 miles a day, walking, on the treadmill. Guess what. That also makes me happy. I know that I’m in the “honeymoon” phase right now; the plateaus will come, the weight loss will stop and my progress will be measured in months rather than days. That’s why I’m using the time now to do things right. I’m changing my eating habits, making exercise a way of life, and trying to change my overall mindset about food. This surgery isn’t the be-all / end-all of my weight loss struggle, its one arrow in my weight loss quiver. This is a lifetime battle that I’ll continue to fight. I’ll have my setbacks, they’re bound to happen, but I’ll keep moving. Well, that’s my story. I look forward to interacting with the folks on this site, it’s one more tool to help me succeed.

First of all, welcome to the board. This is the place I discovered a few weeks before my surgery and it helped me so much. I was nervous and didn't know where to turn and I found lots of support and great answers here. If you want this surgery, you're going to do great. I've been feeling great and losing weight since my surgery on May 21st. I already feel like this was one of the best decisions I've made in years. I asked tons of questions and felt well armed for the surgery, there are lists on here for things to get in your house before the surgery (great help), look at the pre-op question section for ideas. Now, ask your questions and good luck