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Oh wow! I really have a hard time believing the changes in just a month. The pics show more than I can feel. I knew my jeans were looser and I could feel less chub in my belly when I'm sitting down. This is great to see the difference. The swim shorts I am wearing in the pics are actually loose!! I actually think my middle belly roll has disappeared and I'm starting to get my old hour glass shape emerging. I never thought I would be able to post pics but I'm just so happy that I really just want to share my happiness. My husband has said he noticed the changes but I thought he was just being nice. Now I can see what he is talking about. I am thrilled with my sleeve so far. No, it hasn't been all fun and games. There has been tough times and I know there will be more. The 3rd week stall really ticked me off. However, i got through it and proceeded to drop 6 pounds during the last 8 days. I really can't complain about that. I just attempted to attach the pics in order for you. I've never posted pics before so I hope this works. Thanks to everyone for all of their support. Big hugs! Lisa

Today is day 8 post-op. I started back to work two days ago. I though I was ready but maybe I should have taken a whole week off. It was crazy busy and I didn't get enough sleep the night before. I'm doing better today though. I've been looking forward to day 8...today is the day I got to start full liquids. I don't really know when I'm full though. When I swallow liquids to fast my chest hurts. Is that normal? So after a few bites I feel like my chest is about to start hurting and that's when I stop. I'm down 14lbs today. Two lbs a day as of right now. It's crazy. My pre-op appt is next Thursday. I'm feeling super good. The past five months pre-op I was having headaches everyday. They have almost completely disappeared. Since I'm off tomorrow...maybe I will treat myself to a pedicure. Oh! Can anyone tell me anything about the Iso-pure protein drinks? I'm not really feeling the super whey protein shots.

Here it is Sunday, December the 5th and I still can't believe what's happened in the past week. Chris from Dr. Lalor's office called me on Thursday, December 2nd to let me know that she resubmitted my paperwork to Anthem BC/BS on Wednesday, December 1st. She had gotten an email from Anthem stating that they now cover the sleeve as a "stand alone" surgery! My paperwork was submitted July 29th, and I had gotten a denial letter in September due to the sleeve being considered experimental/investigational. I have been waiting for the surgeon to send an appeal letter for me since that point. I'm just in shock! I called Chris back on Friday the 3rd to ask her when she was scheduling surgeries. She told me that she just started scheduling for February 2011 and that she expects to hear back from Anthem within 2 weeks. That means I should be having my surgery in February if all goes well !!! I expect to have to redo my bloodwork and chest xray, but I hope that's all. What a great Christmas present!!

I am also 8 weeks out, love my sleeve 85% of the time, it saved my life as you all know, as far as alcohol i dont miss it because i have no problem drinking it,,,,,,,,,,,,my Dr. said i could have a few when i felt like it but to be careful, i have already learned my limit witch i am sure will go down the smaller i get............

I am 8 weeks post op also and am amazed every day with the changes in my body, mind and spirit. In the beginning I was really hung up on the scale and when that week 3 & 4 stall hit, I panicked thinking what have I done? But, the scale eventually moved again and the inches keep coming off as well. I am already off blood pressure and diabetes medications and feel better than I have in years. I do have rheumatoid arthritis as this cold weather has reminded me this weekend, lots of pain in knees and hips. For now, I am switching from walking to riding my stationary bike to compensate. I am even considering a yoga class as a friend at work has invited me to join her. Bottom line, I am not giving up. I am focusing on fluids, protein and good carbs and just taking this journey day by day.

Well with mine, I had trouble breathing... I thought it was the pneumonia that I had the week before, but then my breathing became very shallow. I had severe pain in my LEFT shoulder and side. Then I had a racing pulse and fever. I didn't do anything to "cause" this ... nor did the dr. My body rejected a staple. It was a total fluke. And I was "fixed" about 2 weeks after my surgery, but they never could get the total leak to stop, I still have a small one that I'm hoping closes soon. I am one of the maybe 3% that this occurs with or to. Follow your dr's orders, do not over consume is what I hear commonly and don't over do it. That's about all I can advise. Speak to your dr. and his staff in regards to how to avoid it as well. And I pray your surgery goes as splendidly well as most seem to experience! Best of luck! xx

Hi all, I had a May 23rd surgery date too. I know what you are going through. My scale is wacked out. I lost ten pounds the first week and then nothing the second week, a pound the third week and then a pound this fourth week. So 12-13 pounds in a month is really disappointing. I keep telling myself - its okay because I lost 58 pounds before surgery (10 pounds during pre-op, after I gained some back during my food funeral). I know that comparing myself to others is not good because some people didn't lose that much prior to the surgery so they are in a different place with their weight loss. But it is very frustrating. I am not eating too much, not too many carbs and am getting my Protein in. I think I may have eaten too many carbs the first two weeks because the only thing I could eat was cottage cheese and other dairy products that rose my carb levels. Now, I'm all about the protein and keeping bad fat and carbs low. The only thing that I think may be a problem is that I don't always drink enough so I will work on this now. My husband gets mad at me when I get upset with the scale and tells me that he is going to hide it. I am not obsessing with it so I only "count" the time I weigh in on Monday morning. He thinks I'm being impatient and unreasonable that I am upset on what I've lost. I guess I just expected it to come off much quicker. This is the ultimate weight loss period and I'm afraid I won't be a success. I really want to get smaller. Everyone I know knows about this surgery so it is hard to say nope, no weight loss when people ask about it. I am an open person but now when I'm not losing it is hard to say that to people who are asking. Any thoughts of this being an easy process are out the window. I thought it would be easy to lose weight the first couple of months, at minimum and expected a battle after I got below 200 pounds. My scale fluctuates like crazy, even when I do weigh myself at the same time of day. I think maybe a new scale? I could see a couple of ounces but like 3 pounds between today and yesterday? It is not period weight, because I just had that less than a week ago. I don't know, I may go back to not weighing myself because it doesn't seem to help. The surgery is done, I plan on eating healthy and exercising regardless of the scale so I have to do my best. Also, weird question below - sorry if it grosses you out! Does anyone know how often we should have a bowel movement? I never (NEVER) had problems with constipation or being backed up so I don't know how often we should be having a bowel movement at this stage. I think I may be backed up but I don't want to take laxatives or stool softeners unless I truly need to. I don't know how to tell if you are (I know weird). I used to go at least once a day but I now go at least a day or two inbetween any bowel movements. I will ask my doctor about it when I see them the middle of July but wanted to see what you all thought.

We had the same surgery date. I'm right there with you. I've lost 28 lbs. since surgery but most of that was in the first week. I haven't lost anything since June 11. I'm frustrated but so thankful for this forum so I know this is actually quite normal & I'm not the only one. Hopefully our stalls will be over soon & we can get back to losing!

I'm 4 weeks post op, and I act asked this question at my last meeting on Monday, according to the dietitian and surgeon speaking... "If you over eat and ignore the sleeve full sensation over a period of time your sleeve will definitely stretch"

@@perfectdayelise Someone went thru this last week or so and the approval came in shortly after her post. Maybe that'll do the trick! I would not hesitate to call your insurance and explain that surgery is only in a few days and you are hoping for approval soon. There's no reason for them to take this long.

i was banded on 9-11 mine lasted for 3-4 days it has been a week now and no pain, hang in there

See if you can download the Medicaid requirements. My insurance company had a lot of very specific stipulations and requirements. I read those papers so many times, and it was good to have a hard copy. Don't try to lose right now - not before you know the plan's requirements. Some people have to actually gain a little to meet BMI requirements for surgery. Once you have information from the insurance, see how your PCP feels about working with WLS patients. Even if there is not a prolonged PCP supervision program required, you are going to need your PCP support and most likely letter of recommendation for the surgery. You can also start researching surgeons and then checking to see if they are approved by insurance. The insurance company can certainly give you names, but you may find others that may also be approved, but the insurance list is not up to date (not unusual). You want someone who not only does a good job and has been doing these procedures for years, but also a program that will follow you for years afterward. For example, my program has 2, 4, 6, 8-9, 9-12, 18 month followups, with yearly followups for 5 years. You will need that support and supervision. Absolutely start going to free seminars that many programs offer. Even if not approved by your insurance, it will give you a lot of information and ideas of what will happen. It is a good place to start your education. Just remember that they are selling a product. Keep that in mind. Focus on facts and not the sales pitch. You can also start watching YouTube programs. Dr. Matthew Weiner has a ton of good information - all the way from choosing the right surgery and how surgery works, to long term maintenance. Bear in mind, his post op diet will probably be different from your own surgeon's (MW starts soft veggies very early on, while mine made me wait 8 weeks). But he does have a LOT of good information that is sound and will give you a good foundation. You want to go into this armed with all the information and education you can get. It's very sad when someone has surgery and then says, "I didn't know about such and such" or "why didn't they tell me this or that." You have to take responsibility for your own education on this - no excuse for ignorance with all the good info out there. So there are some ideas. It is a lifelong journey, not a sprint. It's great you are in a place where you are really ready to make the changes at such a young age - before you get all the degenerative breakdown and health issues that many of us have from decade upon decade of obesity. Keep us posted on your progress.

I really need the same help here! Miralax was so vile to me I could barely gag it down. I got Milk of Magnesia, which worked the first time, but not after that. Maybe I need to up the dose? I swear I only have a 'movement' maybe once a week, and that's while i'm taking daily Dulcolax gel and Benefiber. My doc said to get a psyllium husk version - but I literally couldn't drink the whole thing with my sleeve. Maybe 1/3 to 1/2 of it at best. Aurgh!! At the RN's suggestion I tried probiotics and they did nothing for me, so after two weeks i quit them.

Kaiser gives a specific pre op diet 1200 or less calories. Protein, veggies, whole grain, fruit. Protein first. Then veggies etc...They only do shakes the month prior to surgery because they want people to learn to eat healthier first. Im 41 and I can lose 2-5 a week eating under 1200 and EXERCISING...even if it's just a brisk walk but it's easier for me to do circuit weights at the gym than walkng and it builds muscle and burns more fat faster. But replacing meals with shakes you should melt off lbs. good luck. I'm trying more shakes because I'm stocking up for post op so I'm hoping to melt a few extra each week. I get my surgery date this week

I would be very careful comparing your weight loss to that of others. Everyone is very different and you need to stay confident and motivated in your journey. There are people that lose really slow and people that lose really fast. I didn't lose much at all the first six months and then after that the weight started falling off. You are seven weeks post op, so give it some time and listen to your body. Best wishes

I'm only a week and a half out and have met my 64oz goal since day after home from hospital. But I was a big water drinker prior to surgery, maybe that's why? Not sure if type of surgery matters, I had gastric bypass. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using BariatricPal mobile app

I had 2 fills and I have pretty good restriction now. I am definitely losing much slower. I just got some restriction in early december. I am very tight in the morning and I don't eat much these days. I would recommend going to thedailyplate.com and putting in everything you eat for at least a week. If you are at 600-700 calories per day it is probably too low. I find I eat more than I think I do though. Greg

I don't feel any hunger & I am 2.5 weeks out. What I do feel, that feels similar is bubbles of gas & the stomach trying to "wake up" still, from surgery.

I had surgery March 2 and am experiencing the same thing as you including the stall. But I understand it's part of the process. I just joined a gym and hoping for good things to happen. Good luck to me and you

you only had to start pre op diet a few days before??? i was told two weeks pre op diet i start mine the 23rd and surgery is Sept 6

:thumbup:Congrats!!!! I am next week and can't wait!!!

Yes, I have heard of this happening...my surgeon was very specific about the compliance with this requirement. I had to loose 6 pounds in 3 weeks, just after comming back from a cruise. There are medical reasons your doctor sets a number he/she wants your weight at...exercise to burn some additional calories in a responsible manner, limit your salt intake, and comply 100% with your pre-op diet. That's what worked for me... Good luck!

I went for my first ride since being banded and did it feel great! :thumbup: Living in MI the riding season is short and it sure was hard to give up 3 weeks of riding.

I'm new to this, haven't even had my first fill yet. But I do know everyones weight loss is different. And on average with the band you are to loose 1-2 pounds a week, so if you do the math 20 pounds is right there. I would suggest you discuss with your nutrionist what you are eating to make sure you are getting in the right amounts of protein, calories, etc. Good luck.

Finally, I have been approved through my insurance! It has been a long journey but I have wanted it so bad it feels good to finally be on my way to a new and better me! I should have my day long tests done next week, also the fasting must begin - yuck! yeah!