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I win! Six weeks full liquids here!!!!!! LOL, I guess that WAS unusual. Glad it's behind me.

I was banded yesterday. I got to the hospital at 7:30 for a 9:30 surgery but they didn't start until around 10:00. I was home resting by 4:30. The pain is not as bad as I thought it would be. I slept half the night in a recliner and the other half in my bed. I was sent home with a OnQ med pump. It is basically a numbing medicine and a script for Ultram. I am walking a lot. I also had ahernia repair. That is where most of the discomfort is coming from. My pre-op diet consisted of 3 Protein shakes and Water for 2 weeks. I lost 32 lb doing that - which shocked me. I can start eating soft foods today and can have only that for the next 2 weeks until my follow-up appt. I am hoping the hardest is over with. Becky

My doc and Nut are both strict about sports drinks being sugar free. I had a Powerade zero, a big bottle, and I sipped on it for three days. I got sick of it. lol I picked up some Syntax nectar so that I can stay on top of the Protein and the liquid. Im still so tired though. Not like before, but I do nap for about 5-10 mins to feel better.

I was scheduled within two weeks once insurance approved. I had to do a two week pre-op diet or it probably would have been sooner.

It took a little over three weeks for me. And then I had to wait another month for the actual surgery.

I'm eating (well ... drinking) cream of chicken and cream of mushroom soup this week. When i get to the chunky bits, I just make sure that I chew them well before swallowing. To be honest, the bits are SO small that I can't see them being an issue at all.

WE have the same surgery date, Aug 6, 2014. I am on shakes this week and cream soups. No cereal or oatmeal yet.

Honestly the best thing to do is trust the advice your surgeon, and nutritionist gave you. Only weigh once a week or else those numbers will hit harder. Try throwing in extra exercises. Maybe do a pouch reset.

So much great advice here! I am a daily weighted, but only to satisfy my morbid curiosity. A number is a number. I go by feeling. I know when I’m eatin good and on point, my body practically sings with energy. When I eat things that are not so good for me, I feel sluggish. Even though I may stall when eating the good stuff, or lose a lb after a day of eating junk, I can feel the difference it has on me. See if you can focus more on that than the scale. Because damn that freaking scale is an evil bit*h.

Unfortunately this whole WLS thing doesn't follow a set script. The pounds don't continue to fall off at a steady pace and you won't be happy every time you step on the scale. There will be stalls, I've experienced a few and there will be times when I step on the scale and the number wasn't what I expected. The truth is, if you stick to your eating plan, proteins first, at least 64 ounces of water, get your vitamins and get some type of exercise you'll be good. Trust yourself and trust the program.

Welcome Viv!! Nice to you have you posting All the best in the upcoming weeks! You'll love your sleeve, I just know it. Keep us in the loop on how you're doing!

I posted this on another forum and felt it might be useful for other people to have a read of, if like me, you like your scientific facts. Maybe the below will provide a bit of clarity as to the 'nuts and bolts' of some of the bariatric procedures and their long-term (within the limitations of the data) efficacy. This first academic journal quoted was published in May 2013. So, it doesn't get more 'up to date' with regards to evaluating the comparative effectiveness in the three biggest weight loss procedures. I have only reproduced the abstract and have quoted the source below as the abstract covers the salient information we'd be interested in. The second section is all about the metrics, with a snapshot of all the procedures being evaluated in a tabulated form (the table was removed from the cutting and pasting process, so read left to right) and the risks associated with the operations. The primary and secondary sources are also cited. Better to make decisions based on rigorous scientific research, than hearsay and charasmatic sales pitches, I feel... Hope it helps. Article 1: Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the comparative effectiveness of sleeve gastrectomy (SG), laparoscopic gastric bypass (RYGB), and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) procedures. Background: Citing limitations of published studies, payers have been reluctant to provide routine coverage for SG for the treatment of morbid obesity. Methods: Using data from an externally audited, statewide clinical registry, we matched 2949 SG patients with equal numbers of RYGB and LAGB patients on 23 baseline characteristics. Outcomes assessed included complications occurring within 30 days, and weight loss, quality of life, and comorbidity remission at 1, 2, and 3 years after bariatric surgery. Results: Matching resulted in cohorts of SG, RYGB, and LAGB patients that were well balanced on baseline characteristics. Overall complication rates among patients undergoing SG (6.3%) were significantly lower than for RYGB (10.0%, P < 0.0001) but higher than for LAGB (2.4%, P < 0.0001). Serious complication rates were similar for SG (2.4%) and RYGB (2.5%, P = 0.736) but higher than for LAGB (1.0%, P < 0.0001). Excess body weight loss at 1 year was 13% lower for SG (60%) than for RYGB (69%, P < 0.0001), but was 77% higher for SG than for LAGB (34%, P < 0.0001). SG was similarly closer to RYGB than LAGB with regard to remission of obesity-related comorbidities. Conclusions: With better weight loss than LAGB and lower complication rates than RYGB, SG is a reasonable choice for the treatment of morbid obesity and should be covered by both public and private payers. SOURCE: Carlin A, Zeni T, Birkmeyer N, et al. The comparative effectiveness of sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, and adjustable gastric banding procedures for the treatment of morbid obesity. Annals Of Surgery [serial online]. May 2013;257(5):791-797. Available from: MEDLINE with Full Text, Ipswich, MA. Article 2: September 2012: Morbidity and mortality associated with LRYGB, LSG, and LAGB from the ACS-BSCN dataset LRYGB LSG LAGB 30-d mortality (%) 0.14 0.11 0.05 1-y mortality (%) 0.34 0.21 0.08 30-d morbidity (%) 5.91 5.61 1.44 30-d readmission (%) 6.47 5.40 1.71 30-d reoperation/intervention(%) 5.02 2.97 0.92 SOURCE: Data from Hutter MM, Schirmer BD, Jones DB, et al. First report from the American College of Surgeons Bariatric Surgery Center Network: laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy has morbidity and effectiveness positioned between the band and the bypass. Ann Surg 2011;254(3):410–20 [discussion: 420–2], in: Timothy D. J, Matthew M. H. Morbidity and Effectiveness of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy, Adjustable Gastric Band, and Gastric Bypass for Morbid Obesity. Advances In Surgery [serial online]. n.d.;46(Advances in Surgery):255-268. Available from: ScienceDirect, Ipswich, MA

I had that issue, too. My NP said it's common. I started getting more sleep about three months out. Ask if you can take melatonin, that works for some people...

I too stopped caffeine two weeks before switched to decaf. But a week after surgery My doctor said I can have a cup a day of caffeinated So I do. It takes more than a cup to get dehydrated from caffeine. Just make sure you drink plenty of water too.

I had my surgery on 2/8. I stopped caffeine weeks before. I do take a few sips of decaf in the mornings.

Well I know that this week alone, I started amping up my protein, and Ive already dropped the weight I had gained, as well as an extra 2 lbs. I believe a lot of it was water, but, none the less good riddens. This weekend Im going to go and get some calcium chews, and just take those everyday with my multivitamin. I was reading online about it and it said for a person weighing in at 160 needs to consume, 56grams a day, so, what about a person weighing in at 300lbs?? We need the extra protein. I just worry about it too much I think. Im seeing my nutritionist soon so, I will ask her.

Hello everyone! Here is my story as to how I got here and why I am a Sleever! When I was a young girl I was always a little plump or chubby. I knew that I was because anytime I would go shopping with my mom and I was in the change room I would hear her say to the sales lady " she is a little chunky so this one might not fit so could you get a size up please..." or "hunny you cant buy those shoes because they are way to narrow for your wide feet" etc Yes she was right no matter how much i weighed my feet were and are wide however this was a crutch in my awareness of body image. I attended a catholic school for most of my life and I remember being a very impressionable child praying to God to make me skinny one day. These are definitely memories that I would love to forget but they are ever present in my mind. I stayed miserably plump until I went into high school. Now, I must say that I started to sneak Snacks here and there because i wanted those snacks so badly... I dont think my parents ever knew that. But even with the snacking I was a VERY active kid. I played soccer in the summer and I was always outside with my friends. When I hit High School age I started playing Hockey in the winters and took up Rugby, Soccer and Golf when it was warmer. I slowly lost my "baby weight" and during my high school years i bounced between 130lbs and 150lbs. After graduating from High School I was in a very serious relationship with my now husband and became "comfortable" as most would put it. My highly active lifestyle came to a stand still. I no longer had the time or money to play so many different sports and as a consequence the weight began to pile on pound after pound. Every single time that I would come home to visit my parents my mom would mention to me that she noticed i gained more weight since last time she had seen me.. this always bothered me but you can not silence a lion! As my second year progressed I was climbing the scales and reaching the 200lb mark quickly. During that year my hubby proposed to me and thats when the comments about my weight increased from my mom. She would tell me that if I did not lose weight that my DH would find more attractive women else where and cheat on me ... I was hurt and argued but I couldnt help fearing that there was some truth to it. By my third year of University I decided to join Herbal Magic (a weightloss company that gives u supplements to curb appetite while following their eating plan) and when I began that program I was up to 212lbs. over all i lost a little over 40 lbs and was feeling great. My DH and I got married the following May and I was about 175lbs on my wedding day. Although i felt accomplished I could not afford to keep up with the purchasing of the supplements (225$/month) especially because we were living on student part time wages. So, unfortunately slowly but surely the weight crept back on and there I was back to 214lbs!!! I felt like a total failure! I tried doing the Atkins diet but never lost a lb it was terrible feeling, working so hard and not seeing any results. My DH and i started running every morning before work and I still didnt see any results... I finally threw in the towel because i thought this is where my body wanted me to be. BUT I want to follow my dream of becoming a pilot for the Air Force, So i really took working out seriously but never saw the results i wanted to see. I grew up in a military household where both parents were in the forces... so working out was always hard core every time. THEN!!! I discovered information about the VSG and was obsessed with research and finding out how i could make this possible! I made the necessary adjustments in order to get financing for my sleeve and there I was on Oct 1, 2010 in Tijuana getting my sleeve!!! Its been 7 weeks tomorrow since surgery and as of last friday when i last weighed myself I have lost 30 lbs!!! Im at 184lbs, but Im weighing myself tomorrow to see where I am at the 7 week mark! I was very lucky to have found this option so early in my life! i have had no negative side effects from the surgery.. not one day of nausea or acid reflux. I feel great!!! I cant wait to Celebrate my 23rd birthday in June a totally new person... by then I hope to be in Basic Training so that i can become an officer in the military!! thanks for listening! Jackie

When did you start feeling more energy? I'm almost 6 weeks out, have lost about 50 including pre op diet. I feel pretty good, but about the same as I did before surgery. I keep hearing that I'll feel so much better and I'll have so much more energy buy I'm just not seeing it. Doing really well with getting Protein Fluid and Vitamins, just still tired a lot, which was a big problem for me for a long time, I blame the sleep apnea. Maybe when I e lost enough that that clears up I'll feel it? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

You can get a patch behind your ear for nausea - scopolamine - ask for one, works for three days. Or zofran scrip. Good luck and welcome to the other side.

It all depends on how much weight you have to lose. I started feeling the energy right around 8 weeks post op and it only got better from there.

Amazing!!!! I'm also noticing some clothing that was mega tight are now super loose!!!! I'm also gonna wait til my follow up tomorrow to be weighed...I'll be 2 weeks out on Wednesday!!!!! congrats to you!!!!

I was banded on May 23rd. However, so much more has changed. One day prior to my surgery, my mother took ill. The day after surgery my mom entered hospice and passed on four (4) days later. Needless to say, all the planning and reading for the banding went out the window. I just returned home today and had the opportunity to review my discharge papers that I left behind. Feels like weeks or months have passed by and you could imagine the stress and emotional rollercoaster I am on now. In the midst, I mistakenly ate food, forgetting about the restrictions until something lodged in my chest. I have just returned to my home and trying to resume my regiment and through this loss, I am determined to become healthy and shine in honor of my mother who was supportive of my decision. My first follow-up appointment is tomorrow and hopefully, I have not done any damage to myself. Love ya Mom

I'm nearly six weeks out and my stomach is still so "acidy" that I wouldn't dare add wine!

4 wks out - I was a big social drinker as well and can relate to sillykitty. It’s very much a habit. At 3 weeks I was at an event and tried a sip of beer and couldn’t stand it. The carbonation tasted super exaggerated and the flavor had changed. Last night I was at a dinner party and decided to try wine. I gave myself a smaller 4oz pour and the taste had changed as well. I didn’t really like it but out of habit kept taking sips. I nursed this glass for over 3 hours and still had about an oz left to pour out at the end of the night. I’ve lost the desire to drink and for the most part am totally fine being out and drinking water. Sleeved 3/12/18, HW 270, SW 253, CW 238, GW 160, 5’9”

About five weeks in my case. I now have about three to five in any given week as part of a daily calorie allowance of 950-1250 calories.