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This seems to be something that is pretty far out to be worried about, after all the risk of getting ANY NUMBER of diseases while remaining obese with an entire stomach is just about 100%. Most of us were headed down a pretty self destructive path and the sleeve is just one tool we can use to take an off ramp and hopefully head towards healthy living. Besides there are actually quite a few people that live WITHOUT a stomach at all. http://cancer.about.com/b/2006/06/19/family-at-risk-for-stomach-cancer-has-stomach-removal-surgery.htm Don't worry about it.

Thank you to all who answered my post. I am going to try the suggestions and get in more solid foods. I am still having a hard time getting in the solids. Since this last fill it is the first time I have ever pd'd maybe the last fill might be a little aggressive. I think that is why I have stuck longer with the liquids and mush stage. I was concerned about the weight loss as my doctor said I should loose appx. 10-12 lbs per month. And I was thinking "Please don't let me fail again" I know that 68lbs is alot of weight (it's more then the weight of my son, a whole nother person) but I think I was looking at "the glass being half full" because I was thinking of the other 100lbs I still have to go. And if my weight loss goes as slow as the last few months...well....I am not getting any younger here I am thankful I am at where I am...took two+ years and I have now had the surgery and have experienced weight loss. I know there are people out there still in their fight. My life has changed. I am able to walk for longer period of time. And I can do housework again (now who would think doing housework would make you happy ) I am thankful for my family and friends and for the people on this forum who have taken the time to help and share their experiences with others. Sometimes I just take from the past and all the disapointments. I need to rethink and regroup and KNOW this time I WILL make it. Just learn and keep going.

Weird post... I know. My dog of 10 years is an old girl, so needless to say, she doesn't move around as much as she used to. But now, I've made it even worse for her, she's getting fat! She gets so many table scraps because I always take too much food and can't eat it all. My mother brainwashed me! She told me not to waste food and that there were starving children in China and now instead of throwing it away, my poor dog is feasting on scraps and becoming as big around as she is tall!! Poor girl has become rather.... well lets just say that she doesn't smell as good as she used to! Anyone else had a puppy dog that has been over indulged??

Hello Everyone! Xraigal: I hope you are feeling well today! Sugarbear: Welcome! Sounds like you are doing greyt!!! How long ago did you have your surgery? Purplerose: October 3 will be here before you know it. Are you on a liquid diet this week before surgery? That's what I have to do. My surgery is Nov. 10 and I can't wait. Good Luck! Let us know how you are doing!!!

I am ten days post op and still have some discomfort in my shoulder. It actually comes and goes now. I have less discomfort after walking. The gas-x strips really didn't help me. I kept taking them, but I noticed after walking maybe 5 to 10 minutes, I would start releasing the gas (TMI I know). That would bring immediate relief. I hope you feel better soon.

I have had my third fill and finally feel restriction. Lately, one month after that fill, I have episodes of feeling extremely ill, with a pain that radiates into my jaw, followed by strong vomiting. Most of the time I eat slowly, chew well, and have no problem. I have lost about 21 pounds in 10 weeks, which seems slow. Is this normal, and is the thick mucus during a blockage normal. I will bring up a lot of that if I get stuck. Also, what does "pb" mean??? Thanks

I lived i Atlanta before and it an adjustment for me as well. I have been here 10 years and I am still not used to it.! A friend of mine used Facundus in huntsville. She had gastric bypass but didnt have good things to say .... There are a few other Drs listed on this site in Huntsville... I think Malipar...but not good things are said . I really hope Dr. John Groves can help you..! you have come so far. u cant stop now... I hope this helps you... let me know........

Hey Rman and Gunner I too freaked out when I was finally approved for the band. I was really trying hard to be good, but then I would convince myself to go ahead and eat cause I won't be able to do it later. I lost 2 lbs in four weeks. But once I had surgery I was good as gold and didn't cheat once. I'm now down 19 lbs since my 2 day pre op diet. Gunner - Back in 2005 I was approved for Gastric Bypass but not the lap band. I was really disappointed and decided I wasn't going to let a denial get me down. I lost 40 lbs, took me about 9 months and kept it off for about a year. Slowly started gaining it back until I had gained all but 10 lbs back. I have never had a difficult time losing weight, just keeping it off.

I had my second fill and I don't feel Any restriction. I got a 6 in subway and I know I was not supposed to be able to eat that entire sandwich . I feel like calling for an appt before the 24th but going to hold out . My first time she pit in 1.0 cc and my 2nd she only did .5 cc . It's still discipline that keeps everything in check . I'm still exercising but want to kick it up. I know it took some ppl time to get to the green zone. I haven't weighed myself in over 10 days . Which is big for me because I was doing it everyday . I'm just going to keep it moving and do the right thing . I'm scarred that I'm able to eat certain things . Anybody else feels like this ?

after 10 days of liquid diet what is next .what can I eat ? what do you graduate to? on wednesday I'll find out I'm on my seventh day but if anybody has any ideas for food after the 10 days please let me know

I lost 55lbs prior to surgery......then at 3 weeks I had my bp meds cut in half. Now.....at 10 months.....I have zero meds for bp.

Hi all!! So I will be a yr out on jan 24th 2012. It has been a crazy, happy, sad, exhausting, mind blowing yr! I've made mistakes, went a little too crazy, but came back and I love my freaking sleeve. I started this journey at 304 at a size tight 24. As of today I am 158 and a size 7-10 depending on the clothrd and m/l shirt. I only have 8 lbs til I am a healthy bmi and 18 lbs til goal (which I might even lower!!) I am still losing about a lb a week with some stalls. This is amazing to me! I don't ever remember being this small. I still have a lot of toning to do and am planning on getting ps. I don't think of myself as small or beautiful but I've noticed the way people treat me. Guys check me out! And not the ones I usually had. You know what I'm saying? When ur big u settle. I'm talking hottt guys that those skinny perfect b*****s get!! And its surreal. Women give me dirty looks. This one pisses me off. But they are nicer to my face. When I was obese thin women were for the most part very rude. I still can't wrap my mind around it. I see pics of thr old me and I can't believe it. I have so much more confidence now and it shows!! My sister who I love dearly but can be quite mean is jealous!! She used to be very thin bodering on an eating disorder. A couple months ago she let me go through some clothes that she had. There was a box thst didn't fit her anymore she was saving. She let me borrow some and they fit!! She was irrate!! She didn't think I was smaller than her!! Now they are a little too baggy (not the shirts yet becaise my arms and tummy are still a little too big. She used to make fun of me and call me fat and now I weigh less!! I shouldn't be happy about this but I feel likes its karma. I never go out of my way to make her feel bad and now when we talk about weight she gets mad and says ur not big its just extra skin. If u didn't have that ud be skinny. Has anyone else experienced this?

Good Luck! I was sleeved on 10/3/12 and absolutely NO REGRETS! Down 30 pounds since. Feel awesome! I too had thoughts racing through my head and stressed out but miracously as I walked through the hospital doors that morning I felt a sense of calm come over me. I did great! No complications. Best gift I ever gave myself. Good Luck and keep us posted on your progress! If you have any questions to help settle your mind, ask away....

@soccermomkerry i am happy that gorecki is your surgeon also. I got sleeved on 10/18. He is the best. Have you started with your appointments & testing?

I am two years post op and reached my current weight at 11 months post op. I really never had a "goal" for myself and I think it helped. I understood going in that some people lose more than others and really just tried to roll with the punches. In the end I lost more than I imagined I would, but I am fine with it. I understand that statistically I will gain 10-15 pounds within five years so I don't worry about being too skinny now. I have a current BMI of 20, which is smack in the middle of being normal. I don't really think about food at all. I eat when I am hungry and although I eat pretty healthy overall, I don't deprive myself. I can eat almost anything in moderation. The VOLUME of food I can consume at once is still small and I wouldn't want it any other way.

Now that I am "approved" for surgery and this is becoming a reality, I figured NOW is the time to post my story so far. I am 49, 5'7 and 235 at my highest weight. (Can't believe I actually wrote that down for public consumption!) That made me a BMI of 36.8. I had considered weight loss surgery off and on throughout the years of yo-yo dieting. My last good weight loss was about 30 pounds back in 2009 and I was lighter then. So that means I have put on about 40 pounds in four years. (Less than a pound a month, not too bad, right??!! Ha!) I have some lung problems, high blood pressure (if you would only lose weight, you wouldn't have to take these pills anymore....) and hypothyroidism. Too much for someone my age I decided and started considering the lap-band. I am a nurse and considered that to be "least invasive" and "easiest" to have done surgically. On November 28, 2012, I signed the hubby and I up for an informational seminar. While hubby wasn't interested (I'm hoping to change that), I listened to the doctor present the band, sleeve and RNY options. To his credit, he didn't try to sway anyone to any one procedure, but I had changed my thinking from lap-band to sleeve. I submitted my "insurance verification" form and left. In lateDecember/early January, I was contacted by the doctor's office and told that my insurance (CIGNA) did provide WLS benefits. I had started a post-holiday "kind of" diet about mid-January with Weight Watchers. I saw my surgeon for the first time on January 28, 2013. We discussed all the usual things and agreed that the sleeve was a good procedure for me. My only beef with the process was that the coordinator told me "All your insurance needs is the evaluation and 3 months of diet history. Just print out Weight Watchers and it will be ok." More on that in a minute.... From there, I had: EGD (endoscopy) on 2-4 and found to have a small hiatal hernia. Psych eval and nutrition eval on 2-13. In the mean time, I had researched CIGNA's bariatric policy and found out that I needed a lot more than "Just 3 months of Weight Watcher history." Rather than chance it, I went and got clearance from my PMD and met with a nutritionist for 3 months of a supervised diet. (2-20, 3-16 and 4-20...boy am I glad I started that "kind of diet" back in January!) Am now at 222 (fluctuating pounds.) My coordinator submitted my packet on about May 10th with a comment of "everything looks great...should be no problem." On May 17th, I was notified of denial...based on two points. My physician had failed to state that he BOTH recommended me for the surgery AND cleared me (he only recommended me....despite the fact I had asked him to do both.) The nutritionist did a summary report that detailed all three visits, with all of the components required, but CIGNA wanted it in three separate notes. At least it wasnt because of medical criteria! So...my coordinator got all that together and on May 21st, she submitted again, stating it could take up to 90 days, but probably not that long. The waiting is the hardest part!!! Well, today I got the news I was waiting for...APPROVED! It took 7 business days for the appeal. Now we are in fast-forward mode: 6-10: Pre-op meeting with surgeon to sign consents, etc... 6-15: Start of pre-op diet! (Not looking forward to it....) 6-17: Pre-op lab/x-ray work at hospital 6-25: Surgery I travel for my work (I am a healthcare consultant) and will be out of town three weeks between now and then, so it will fly by! I am so excited. I think now that it's a reality, my husband is concerned. I got the "If it makes you happy, it makes me happy" but I am not convinced. I know he is supportive of my decisions, but probably a bit insecure at the same time. food has always been a big part of our life and I have been slowly withdrawing from that over the last few months. Thanks for listening! I am so darn excited I just needed to share it with someone. I have told very few people. I will update after the surgery.

I had my surgery 4-19-08; have lost 43 pounds; am struggling right now with keeping food down and same as you just seem to handle the chicken salad better than anything. Eggs come right back up no matter how they are cooked or made. I have a sinus infection right now, tons of drainage and we think that is what is making everything come right back up - not being gross - but mucus looks to be the main thing coming up in huge bulk amounts. Sorry to be gross. Also, I am battling an issue of needing root canal and the pain is awful, so the pain meds are not helpful to eating right. I am just stuck and so down mentally. My weight loss has been on stand-still mode and now these issues don't help. I love my smoothies more than anything but was told to get more food down as my body is in starvation mode. Anyone else going through anything like this?

I'm being sleeved Monday by Dr Goerki 2013 is my year....SD 11/19 Methodist Hosp in NY

Hi how's your weight loss and recovery? 2013 is my year....SD 11/19 Methodist Hosp in NY

I'm 52 and was sleeved on 2/19/13. I am now down 116lbs and happy for the sleeve. I've had two neurosurgeries in the last 14 months which limited my activity and still lost weight. My neighbor who had Lapband three years ago and lost 100lbs but regained 110 lbs due to complications. He underwent a revision to the sleeve after seeing my success with the sleeve. Good luck whatever you decide. This has been one of my best decisions ever, as I am now the lightest I've been in 36 years.

A "stall" a few weeks out is inevitable, and here's why. Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs of water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when you are not getting in enough food, your body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. And when you use up 2 lbs of glycogen, you also lose 8 lbs of water that was used to store it -- voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs that most people lose in the first week of a diet. As you stay in caloric deficit, however, your body starts to realize that this is not a short term problem. You start mobilizing fat from your adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But your body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy -- like, to outrun a saber tooth tiger. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. And as it puts back the 2 lbs of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though you might still be LOSING energy content to your body, your weight will not go down or you might even GAIN for a while as you retain water to dissolve the glycogen that is being reformed and stored.

hi everyone, i also have ibs.............years ago i would go between constipation and diarrhea...........but the last 10 years it has been all diarrhea, there is not a day goes bye that i do not go anywhere from 5 to 10 times daily. (SHOULD BE SKINNY LOL). i was banded april 20th and have seen very little difference in my diarrhea, if anything it has gotten a little better, but not much. my doctors tell me i am one of the worse cases they have ever seen. i always thought it was things i ate, but now that i eat very little it is still there........... anyway good luck everyone.

BMI was 38.5 about 2 months ago when I first saw Dr. Spivak, but having just finished a cruise, I have gained 5 pounds and would have about 10 to go. I hate feeling this additional weight already and gaining more would put me at the highest weight I have ever been. Not sure what to do.

You're not alone. I have only lost about 15 lbs in the last 10 months. I also started off great, then slowed way down. Now I have just stopped. I am eating too much, and need a fill. Things keep coming up that take my PTO time. They want to see me for a Dr's appt. before I get a fill, so i need time off for both. I can't manage it just now. Wish I had more will power. I guess if I did, I wouldn't have needed the band in the first place. I'll just keep trying. I am really happy with what I have lost so far, I just want to lose more.

I actually had correspondence with Dr. Sauceda and got a quote for various procedures. After many emails and questions I had I found out why Mexico docs are willing to perform MANY procedures at one time. I was told by the doc that he would do a full body lift, a thigh lift,and a boob lift with new implants all in one operation for $16k. I then went to 3 stateside doc consults and 2 of them would only do one area at a time and the third would do 2 at one time. This made no sense to me so I emailed Dr. Sauceda back and asked how is it that in the states docs don't want to do more than one or two at a time because of the time you will be under general anesthesia but he is willing to do everything at once which will keep me under for 10-12 hours??? He emailed me back and told me they don't put you under general anestesia!!!!!! They give you a local twighlight that puts you in a twilight sleep so you are NOT completely out and you CAN wake up in the middle of it. I'm sorry but I'm just not willing to take that chance! I've heard alot of good about Dr. Sauceda though if someone is brave enough!