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Hello everyone! It's been quite a while. I've been busy, plus very down, so haven't been around. I'll let you know what's been happening with me. Well, the end of December I was sick with flu and got a total unfill because I was having problems as well. I've gone every month for a fill and have gained back 25 pounds. :rolleyes2: The last fill was .25 and I couldn't sip water. They took .1 out, so I only had a .15cc fill. I still couldn't sip water. They took the .15 out and with that tiny tiny amount of unfill I still have NO restriction. I'm not sure how that is possible. So I'm back to doing it on my own. Again. And we all know how well that works. I'm very down and not sure what to do anymore. The band was my last hope for any kind of weightloss. The only way I was able to lose was with the band and with such restriction that I could barely eat in a day (maybe 600 calories). I'm sure a lot of you can relate to that. Now I can eat anything and of course I have no willpower - I mean if I had any kind I wouldn't have needed the band. It sounds very weak, but it is the truth. The band was my backup plan for moments of weakness. I'm not sure how to go through the day on a meal of 2-4 tablespoons with major hunger in between to lose maybe 1 pound a week. How do I do that without restriction? The doctor didn't really say anything when I left. I said to the nurse what do I do now? She just said to buck up. :thumbup: I feel like I have been bucking up for the past 15 years, trying to lose this weight. Obviously I am unable to buck up enough on my own, thus the expensive surgery. This is it. This is the last thing I have done to my body for weightloss and it has stopped working for me. I feel very sad and very hopeless.

Thanks everyone for your wonderful inspiring words during my very emotional 2 more weeks to surgery. Things are going better. My Mom was diagnosed with cancer about a year ago and thank God is in remission but it was in her lower stomach now all I can think about is "Oh when they open me up (laproscopic) they'll have to quit and not be able to do my surgery, they'll find something wrong with me. Now, why, would a normal human being set and think of stupid crap like that. Lord, I'll be so glad to be banded, healthy, and home. Love you all, SHerri

You just can't think about it like that - and it sounds like maybe you think too much about it. Let it go with a big deep breath. I lost an aquaintance who never got to her first post on this forum (I found it out about 2 weeks ago) we had been texting after meeting in the doctors office, then nothing...don't let death rule you while you are living...I have had to deal with that too much. Bright pink and red energy for you to use to burn away the worries...

A small piece of very soft chicken nearly killed me about 4-5 weeks out. I went back to soft foods 2 more weeks. I never want to feel that scare again. You should cut the boiled egg in about 10 small pieces and eat it with a fork. For that matter, this would work on many foods.

And I'm getting some killer headaches. Not a hydration issue as I'm taking in >60 oz of water daily. Anybody have the same experience? Sent from my SM-T550 using BariatricPal mobile app

1st pic is 3 weeks before surgery & 2nd pic is today, at 2 months post op! I have lost 35 pounds & feeling great, most of the time! I get mad at myself for not eating healthier choices & not exercising like I should! I actually feel guilty about it! I love the compliments at work, that my scrubs are "falling" off of me now! I'm determined not to buy new scrubs until I am able to purchase a size small!! Excited about this new journey in life!! I get super paranoid about stretching my stomach! After every meal I can't help but think, "oh no, I bet I stretched my stomach!" However, that just seems to be in my mind!! Praying I'll do better!!

I am allowed glucerna meal replacements, crystal light, and broth. This has to stay at 1200 cal. for 2 weeks. It's awful! I started today. Good Luck!

I have been stalled since post op week 2. I am on week 4. I did finally loose 1/2 lb, but i am trying to stay positive. I think our bodies kind of go through shock. It was a major surgery that changed our systems forever. I am staying focused and I know that I am still loosing even though the scale is my worst enemy right now! I was told by a good friend to measure myself and not focus on the scale. She was right! I am loosing inches for sure and I know that eventually I will break this stall and start loosing again!

Thank you for sharing readysetgo! I am 38 as well and am getting SO excited about being banded 1st week in December! I know the beginning will take some time to adjust but after I know it will be amazing to finally reveal the thinner healthier me that I know has been inside me ALL along. I weigh 246 lbs and would love to be back in onederland! it's always been a struggle staying there... But from all the posts I really think the band will be the long term tool I need to get there and most importantly stay there! Can't imagine how great it will feel to weigh 175 (or less hehe) I know my joints and knees and feet and back oh yeahhh and my heart..will thank me!!! Keep on keeping on!!

Hi Ellie, thank you for the kind words. I start pro-op diet next week. I think I'm going to start over the weekend, just in case the first few days are rough. I'd rather be crabby at home in private, than take off a coworkers head over something silly, you know? I will pm later! Thanks!!!

One more piece of advice, after you've fully recovered from your surgery maybe start looking for a new job. pre-surgery weight 325; surgery date 2/28/2013; surgery weight 307; 8 weeks past-op weight 281.4; 12 weeks post-op 274; 4 month post-op 266.2; 5 month post-op 262.6

I called Anthem this morning and got the news!! Surgeon's office submitted on 10/23 and told me to give it up to 2 weeks. I'm excited, yet nervous. Pre-op appointment on 11/21.

I too have stalled from week 3-4, I am praying that it starts up again soon. I've heard others say if you don't get in enough calories also, like around 700-900 a day that our bodies will think there starving and just hold onto the weight. So we need to look at protein and calorie intake when we eat and of course our water!

Insurance approval took about a month. That was late September. I think the earliest I could have had the surgery was late October or early November, but I opted for December 20th so that I didn’t have to go on the pre-op liquid diet over Thanksgiving and so that I could spend the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s recuperating.

Hi all! Monday marked 3 weeks since my band removal and conversion from banded plication to sleeve. I am still working on getting all of my Protein in. Luckily, I purchased a lot of sample packs of Protein drinks before surgery so I haven't gotten bored with any particular brand or flavor. I also bought several different brands so that's helped me too. Since this is my 3rd WLS, I felt I was prepared for what life would be like immediately post-op and it was pretty much what I expected. I'm still sore from where the band and stomach were removed. I also had a large hernia repair in the same area, so my left side is still tender. My incisions look great and I'm almost completely healed externally. I try to not lift heavy items but still tote groceries and laundry baskets full of clothes around! I'm off from work for another 6 weeks due to summer break (I'm a teacher) so hopefully, I'll have my eating and drinking patterns established by then. What I've learned so far to help me: 1. Drink 4-8 ounces of Water upon waking (I learned this from VSGTanya on Youtube) 2. Drink a Protein shake soon after waking (Right now I'm only drinking about 4-5 ounces) 3. Eat protein every 2-3 hours 4. Try to get some form of exercise or activity everyday (I use exercise t.v. and videos at night) I also look for opportunities to exercise. For example, I took my kiddos to the park and I walked around the playground while they played. 5. Use MFP or another food tracking method for accountability 6. Go to therapy (This has been helpful to me and it's something I never did while banded) 7. If you can, find a support group that you like and go! 8. Enlist help from family and friends (Only my DH and 1 good friend know I had the sleeve. A few friends know I had my band removed. This has been a bit difficult for me but I feel that's the best decision for me, right now) 9. Measure food, especially in the beginning. I don't have a food scale yet but I put everything in cups or dishes that have measurements on them. 10. So far, I seem to lose better with a bit higher calories (around 500-600), a bit higher carbs (around 40-50) and more exercise. When I was "eating" lower calories (around 300-400) I would plateau, even if I exercised. This, so far, seems to be what my body likes - that may change later. 11. Recovery was easier than I thought but the mental part is WAY more difficult!! 12. Enjoy the journey. This is my journey and while I think it's important to learn from others and listen to my doctors, I don't intend to follow someone else's idea of what my journey should be. This is probably the first time in my life that I've felt like that!! Although I've only been sleeved for 3 weeks, I've had WLS for 12 years so hopefully, some of those years weren't all wasted and I learned from them! Thanks for reading. Sorry for rambling!

So I am meeting with nutritionist and psych on same day this week. I am nervous since I am 1 yr out of an abusive marriage and I was honest about stress and the feeling of depression on the questionnaire. I have never felt any self pitty and I have always tried to remain strong for my 10 yr old daughter. I firmly believe my faith has driven me and the leaving him was the BEST choice for my little one and I. But now I am afraid the psych might say, the lap band is no good for me...someone please advise what the psych eval may consist of...

Hey guys, hoping someone can help me out here. I'm 2 weeks post op today. I have not had any complications, no pain, vomiting etc (I'm NOT complaining)! My recovery has been amazing until today when I got on the scale and only dropped 2lbs!! I lost 13 my first week but only 2 this week! I'm so frustrated! Now, I do feel better, have been working out harder than "allowed to" cuz I feel like I can but scale wise I'm upset. Has this happened to anyone else? Words of advice? Thanks guy!

my nutrionist (not affiliated with my surgeon) gave me sample ideas of what I can eat when and I tried to stick to that... try to find a protein you like....i drink "The ideal Chocolate Milk" protein powder and like it. Some people like Unjury (it's not too bad), some don't. You have to find what works for you. Even 5 months out, at least 5 days a week I have a protein drink for breakfast...when I don't, I sometimes fall short of meeting my protein. you can start logging your meals at a site like myfitnesspal.com....i started that pre-op and have been pretty consistent with logging my meals. Also helps that I can see my friends' diaries to see how they get their protein in.

Give yourself another week or so to see if your fill "settles", I've noticed a lot of people seem to have a little rougher of a time during the time following a fill. I'm guessing you're a bit swollen and your body needs time to adjust. Try drinking warm drinks in the morning to help loosen your band a bit. If you get a couple of weeks out and are still having trouble with solids and not feeling well, then perhaps it will be time to call your surgeon to get his opinion on things. Good luck!

Yup, as mentioned, my wife made me an embankment of pillows in which I nestled into. I am not a back sleeper either, so with the pillows and an afternoon nap in the recliner, I was able to get enough sleep to get by until I was able to sleep on my side. That was probably two weeks post.

Im doing ok, just going over the packet. Cooking up a storm in the kitchen for my husband so have some food for the beginning of the week after that he is on his own lol. Sounds good,i should be in the directory at the hospital. I want to try and make that group on Wed. But we will see how i feel Dasha

It may just be a normal stall and/or your body readjusting. I hit one at 3.5 months and am just coming out of it. Funny thing: I really did lose inches. I dropped a pant size during the "stall." You can try to shock your body out of it. but I thinks it's normal and an actually healthy part of the weight loss process.

It looks as though I'm suggested to go on a liquid diet for five days to shrink my pouch. I will do that. I'm done eating for the day, so I'll start the liquid diet tomorrow. I do focus on Protein first, then veggies. Rarely do I eat a third item. My snacking is what my surgeon suggested, three times a day. But that was probably a suggestion for someone who is eating way less at meals. I'm just going to go back to square one. I've almost gotten there before, but come up short. Re-dedication is what's needed it seems. You've all been a help. But WHY can I eat more than you?

DUring the week I am on the road by 7am and my band is still asleep so I go a sugar free carnation instant bfast and skim. On the weekends I do 1 scrambled egg, 1 pc bacon, 1 slice wheat toast.

What a difference ANOTHER 24 hours made...I can get liquids and food down now. I had some sausage and salad. I don't think i'll go for that unfill after all....i'll see over a few weeks how this fill is treating me, in the end i might actually still need a bit more, who knows its too early to tell. Good thing i held back. The self imposed liquids day did some good i guess. Maybe the pork had something to do with it too...either way, thanks for all your comments and suggestions.