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A lot of my back pains stem from a crooked spine and inflamed muscles that never die down.. so I normally take 4-10 advils daily (pre-op). Tylenol does not help the muscle pains at all.. I was told not to take NSAIDS, so I've just been 'toughing it out' and hoping with weight loss it will get better.. only really bad part is at night in bed, it hurts a heck of a lot to lay down, so I take liquid tylenol night time stuff to help me pass out and not feel it. During the day when it flares up really bad I take some of the liquid lortab I was prescribed from post-op. I only have about 1 dose left, and I tried liquid tylenol for the pain during the day with no result, so not sure what I'll do! I guess pray I lose enough weight to reduce the pain rather quickly

Weightview.com will show you 50 lbs lighter. But you need to be side ways. Its a cool sight. I sent mine in a while back. I will be sending it again in 10 more lbs.

I have a certain bottle that holds 4 cups of water..... I fill it first thing in the morning...then I sip/gulp all day long.... at meal times I have to move the cup out of sight so I dont sip during my meals....after 30 mins...I grab it again and drink...I get a easy 8 to 10 glasses of water in every day thanks to my favorit shake cup...I havent been seen with out it in a yr now. its my new best friend.....lol

This is from Tiffykins........she has the best research. Hope this helps. The first links are other VSG patients that are further out. Long-term Sleeve Experiences - 2 Years on January 15, 2010 9:11 pm Diligence-is-always-required Stalls-Happen Update-from-a-2-Year-Post-Op-VSGer 2-year-surgiversary-and-feeling Two-and-one-half-years-post-op TWO-YEARS-YALL Just-Passed-My-2-Year-Surgiversary questions-for-post-ops-2-years-out-or-more 2-years-out-food-amount-info anyone-2-years-out Happy-2-year-anniversary-to-me 2-years-post-op-TODAY 2-5-Years-After-a-VSG Everday-life-at-2-5-years-out 2-1-2-year-update Has-it-really-been-2-years 2-1-2-year-update Two-Year-Surgiversary 2-year-update-portrait-of-a-heavyweight-a-bit-late Two-year-surgiversary 2-and-1-2-years-later 2-years-since-my-surgery-any-advice-on-face-lift 2-year-post-op-pics Two-Years-Before-amp-After-Pic 2-year-update-portrait-of-a-heavyweight-a-bit-late Thought-you-might-enjoy-an-update-with-a-few-pics Busybusymom-is-back-2-years-post-op TWO-YEARS-BABY Any-old-timers-still-lurking-the-boards Long-term Sleeve Experiences - 3 Years on June 8, 2009 10:43 pm Three years out Three and a half years after Vertical Gastrectomy My Story A quick 2 year and 3 year VSG update Third Year Surgiversay Not always easy but always worth it Very Discouraged 3 years out Links for researching the VSG on March 15, 2009 11:18 pm Here are some links I've collected when I was researching the sleevehttp://www.asmbs.org/Newsite07/resources/Updated_Position_Statement_on_Sleeve_Gastrectomy.p df. - includes reports of early studies LapSF Educational presentation to FACS - includes some 2 year results LapSF Two Year Study LapSF Five Year Study - abstract only LapSF Five Year Study - presentation (requires Windows to play) Literature review on the sleeve - requires $$ to get the full text unfortunately (Totally worth the money) Sleeve best for over 50 crowd Video of a sleeve with lots of education discussion Video of a sleeve that is more about the operation Ghrelin levels after RnY and sleeve Ghrelin levels after band and sleeve Diabetes resolution in RnY vs. Sleeve Comparison of band to sleeve - literature review I used this website a lot. I paid for some of the full articles that grabbed my attention based on the abstracts. There are several articles that you can comb through that interest you. Once you read an abstract, on the right hand side of the page, there are other related articles listed that you may find interesting. SpringerLink - All Content Items SSAT - SSAT 2008 Annual Meeting Abstracts - Laparoscopic Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy for Morbid Obesity: a Report of a Five-Year Experience with 750 Patients</b> Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy (LSG) In Morbid Obesity: Review https://www.highbeam.com/reg/reg1.as....html&full=yes This was recommended to me for post-op options for meals, and just a guide. [ame=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061242853?ie=UTF8&tag=mybiglife-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0061242853]Amazon.com: Before & After, Revised Edition: Living and Eating Well After Weight-Loss Surgery (9780061242854): Susan Maria Leach: Books[/ame] [ame=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061242853/][/ame] [ame=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061242853/]Amazon.com: Before & After, Revised Edition: Living and Eating Well After Weight-Loss Surgery (9780061242854): Susan Maria Leach: Books[/ame] This one is cool because it shows a significant decrease in ghrelin with VSG patients vs. RNY patients. Weight loss, appetite suppression, and changes in ... [Ann Surg. 2008] - PubMed result Abstract on diabetes/glucose/insulin regulation with VSG vs. RNY stating that at 3 months out with the patients studied, RNY and VSG had no marked difference in improved lab results with their glucose showing that rerouting is not always necessary for resolution of this particula co-morbidity. Improvement in glucose metabolism after bariatric ... [Ann Surg. 2009] - PubMed result Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: an innovative new tool in the battle against the obesity epidemic in Canada Edit to add: If my insurance would not have come through with my revision, I would have traveled to Mexico, and my choice in surgeon was also Dr. Aceves as a revision surgeon. There are a lot of really great surgeons in Mexico and the U.S. it really all depends on your comfort level, and what you want and need from a program.

I know someone just posted that people should essentially quit thier bitching, but I don't care if I'm bitching b/c I have EARNED that right too! I have been at basically a 10-11 week plataeu, I'm eating under 1200 calories per day, I'm tracking my everything at fitday.com, I'm exersizing 20 minutes per day (I know I need to make it more but from someone who NEVER exersized pre-band I'm doing pretty damn good. Anyways, to lose weight you have to burn more calories than you eat. I am convinced those 250 calories an Isopure shake with skim milk is what is making me maintain. I'm thru with them! I will just eat meat everyday and hope that is enough protein. Now without that shake I can cut my calories by 250 per day.

Susan, feel free to come here anytime!! We have a great time! I hang out at the NJ site also. I think most of the people there are from other places also. I was a Jersey girl all my life so thats why I went there to begin with. Jennifer, You sound like your doing great. The 10 pounds of lifting is what I have been told, well actually no more than a gallon of milk. My puppy is only 7 pounds so I can lift her. I am also going a bit nuts. I'm sure not up to driving yet. But movies and cards good old solitaire, work well. Hang in there before we know it we will be out running.

hi, i'm from lafayette,but live in fla. was banded on 10/15 in mexico. it was awesome....

I am from slidell, i was banded on 10/10/07 by Dr Zapada in monterrey mexico

On road trips, I take a little cooler with protein shakes and fat free cheese. I'm not much of a snacker, so road trips are a challenge for me. I mostly do shakes to keep my energy up for driving. We often make a 10-hour drive to our home state, and my 21-year-old son is really good at watching over me and reminding me to eat when I need to. (Whose the parent?)

Sorry im not to good at this. Never been part of a forum but i figured id give it a try since i need a little support. Well my names Danny i live here in sunny California ???? . I have the VSG surgery 10/08/14 and my weight was 367 and im now 295. Im 23 and wondering of theres anyone whose had the surgery aroind my age?

yes - it'll stop - and then many of us bounce back up 10-20 lbs a few months later. So you may just look like Olive Oyl for a few months. If it's really worrying you, you can always come up a bit on calories - but keep in mind that most of us do have that 10-20 lb rebound

Emjay, There is an oral allergy associated with a Ragweed pollen allergy. If you're allergic to ragweed pollen, eating certain foods will cause some swelling in your mouth and lips. This lasts around 10 to 15 minutes and goes away with no long-term issues. Normally, this is all. It doesn't effect your stomach enough to notice. With the LAP Band, these foods can cause swelling of the area around your band, tightening the opening. I was having trouble eating pretty often and food wasn't getting stuck but it was getting very uncomfortable and caused me to stop eating until the feeling went away. I knew I had a ragweed allergy because I'd experienced the swelling in my mouth and lips but eventually realized that it was probably effecting my stomach as well. I tested this theory several times to see if the foods I'm allergic to were causing an issue. Avocado is one of the foods on the list. I tried a sandwich with guacamole and had problems almost immediately. I drank a little bit of Water, waited an hour then tried another sandwich without guac and had no issues. I've tried several times and had the same result. Here's the list of foods known to cause an allergic reaction in people with ragweed allergies: Cantaloupe Watermelon Honeydew (All melons are an issue. This is just a short list of common melons.) Avocados Cucumbers Bananas Zucchini Sunflower Seeds/oil Chamomile Echinacea Green pepper Paprika Artichoke Hibiscus If you've eaten any of these and had an issue with your band immediately after or within a few hours after, its probably the food itself causing the problem, not the ragweed allergy in general. Some people have worse reactions to certain foods than others. I can't eat cantaloupe AT ALL but I'm usually ok with zucchini. Cooking the foods also reduces the likelihood of reactions. Sunflower oil and paprika are sometimes hard to know about ahead of time but have caused issues with my band before. Try avoiding these foods and see if your issues go away. Good luck and hope this helps!

I had the shots about 10 years ago and can't recommend them enough! It was a 3-year process, but before the first year was finished, I was able to get a pet cat - something that would have been IMPOSSIBLE prior to the immunotherapy injections.

I am using Dr. Hollis at True Results in Houston. Scheduled for surgery on 10/21.... everything going great so far! :-)

I'm going to True Results and have my surgery scheduled on 10/27 with Dr. Reilly. He is great and is very straight forward with you about how it works and how YOU have to work with your band. True Results has been wonderful and has taken care of my insurance approval, they just told me where to be and when to be there and they did the rest! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you check them out. Good luck to you and you can add me as well.

Mine have gone from a size 10, to currently being a 7.5, I have removed, them and wear a simple band...which is now getting way too big as well. The design of my ring is going to make sizing a challenge, and will only be able to be done once without ruining the design--so I am waiting until I am at a size I am comfortable with for a few months to get it done. I opened the jewelry box last night looking for a right hand ring to wear to a dinner party, and almost cried looking at my beautiful rings!!! But I keep thinking how nice they will look on long thin fingers as opposed to how they looked on the sausages I used to call fingers. Unfortunately....my hands show my age much more than they used to----anyone else notice this???? Kat

OMG! This is exactly what I have been thinking when I look in the mirror. I am seeing wrinkles that were never there before. However, others have told me I look 10 years younger. I guess they don't have the magnifying close-up mirror I have.

Who did you see? How long after your goal weight did you have surgery? I’m past goal (reached normal BMI at 6 months). Now down another 10 lbs. I feel like the excess skin is making me think I can’t just try to maintain.

I never had pain eating. As for stretching, you can't stretch your sleeve at 10 days out. If you do overeat, you'll blow out your suture line long before you stomach tissue would stretch. But you will certainly lose restriction over the years. At 4 years I can eat twice as much as I could at 2 years and probably 10 times as much as I could the first 6 months postop.

So I am preparing for my appt with my bariatric surgeon Jan 8th and trying to get all my records together to shorten the approval process for my ins. I am only 28 years old so the extent of my medical visits for the last 8 years have been ob/gyn visits for my 3 kids. Last year I did go to a "wellness" clinic for fatigue, exhaustion and just general well being, thinking that if I was not so tired all the time I might have energy to excercise, cook healthier meals, etc. I thought I might try a different approach since the dieting I have done since 1990 (10 years old) has not worked so far. I have been seeing this wellness doctor for 10 months about every 2-3 months and she has found a thyroid problem and been treating me for that as well as my fatigue, stress, etc. Bottom line... she won't write my a letter stating that I have seen her for " weight related issues".......WHAT!!! And no where in her notes does it say anything about our discussion regarding my claoric intake, daily excercise, weight history, etc!!! And we discussed that at EVERY visit!!!! HELLO..... IT IS A WELLNESS CLINIC, me walking in at 230 lbs, you would think she would have noted somewhere that she asked about my weight problem...how else would I have gotten to 230 lbs. I am a nurse and I know that docs don't have time to note EVERY word, but is she not treating my "wellness" which to me includes my nutritional state. As we all know the "damper" obesity is on "wellness" What a joke, I am so irritated. Anyone have a similar situation? Thanks for reading, I am not one for long posts. :rain::clap2:my sone wanted to put the smiley in.

I have a 10 cc band and my first fill was yesterday and he put in 4 cc to start.

Hopes place, Inamed makes 3 sizes of band. There is a 9.75 cm that holds 4 ccs, a 10 cm that also holds 4 ccs, and the 11 cm Vanguard that holds 9ccs. You must have the 10cm which holds 4ccs.

Bubbly, My band date was 6/20 too and am down 10 lbs. But 20 lbs is great! Keep up the good work.......... Where did you have your surgery?

I was banded 10/2011, I have lost sixty eight pounds. I'm a slow loser:( mainly because my first year I couldn't find enough time to work out as I should. Now I work out twice a week in a.m and then once in evening. I will say I've had five fills and 2 unfills but that's because my stomach is so sensitive. I have to watch every calorie. I don't lose as much as many banders, my journey is slow. I try not to focus on pounds because it drives me nuts when seeing others lising double than me.This is the first time being on liquids this long because three weeks back they had to take out my last fill plus some because my stomach got so irritated after eating leftovers:( but I'm very happy I did it, it changed my life. I think about everything pertaining to food differently now and i think thats whats important- changing our thinking.Congrats!