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I only vomited a handful of times - and I would say it wasn't until I was a couple of months out, on solid foods and perhaps feeling a little cocky... well really I was eating too fast. I apparently had not sufficiently broken that bad habit. I was so paranoid - in the early weeks and was very very careful. Be aware that you can;t really feel everything in those first 3-6 weeks so I ate "by the book" measuring everything and watching the clock to know when to eat. I felt that was the best way to avoid accidental overeating in those initial weeks. I am 2.5 years out and never vomit (I did constantly with the band) so I guess I have learned something finally!

Hi, I have a bmi of 32,off on holiday next week so it is bound to rise over the two weeks away, my question is this,is there any way I can get a sleeve with this bmi, Ive been offered the band but really don't want it as there seems so many complications and horror stories Would it help my case if my mum and two sisters have developed type 2 diabetes and my dad has had to have a quadruple heart bypass? Anyone had the sleeve in uk with lower bmi and who did you go with? Any advice greatly welcomed x

I use to love water but now every time I drink it I get sick to my stomach! Anybody else have that reaction? I'm 6 weeks post op and doing well.. Just can't drink plain water!!

Oh weird, I just posted that today I could finally drink water again. I'm also 6 weeks post op. I had just tried a few days ago and couldn't. Hopefully you'll be able to very soon!

Yeah, last night I succumbed to eating about 5 bites of ice cream. I'm 5 weeks out and on soft foods. Regretting it this morning with an upset tummy. This surgery isn't for the faint of heart!

I had one a couple of years ago unrelated to WLS. They actually stopped the treadmill test after a short time as my heart rate went up too fast. Ended up having a Lexiscan about a week later as a subsitute where they take pics (MRI-like) then inject you with something that replicates walking on a treadmill (speeds up your heart) and then take more pics. Hope you can just do the treadmill test!

I had severe nausea the first two days after surgery. After that, none. In fact, I only take my nausea meds to help me sleep at night. I'm one week post op, so next Monday 12/9 I'll transition to puréed and see how I do! Katy W- Louisburg, NC Lapband revision to VSG with DS HW- 297 Weight at Surgery-279 CW- will update at two week appt

That is what I felt (I'm only 2 weeks out so I still remember it vividly). I have had anxiety/panic disorder for the last 20 years give or take, so I kind of knew what to expect. In my case, I asked the anesthesiologist beforehand if I could take Xanax before I arrived at the facility, to which they told me I could, so long as I took it 2 hours before my arrival time. Doing so made the pre-knocked-out part 1 million times better than normal for me. Otherwise, I would try to distract yourself and do some fun things that you won't be able to do for the first couple of weeks. Take a walk, country drive, go boating, go to the movies... basically anything that you enjoy that will not cause you to get "hurt" (Allergies, etc.) before the surgery. I'm sure everything will go fine, but I will pray for you tonight!

Hi, as you might have read, my name is Carmen. I am a mother of two, a 13 year old daughter, and a 9 year old son. Currently after 15 years working I am taking a break to continue my education. I am an EMT, and I am going to school for cosmetology. I been in the retail industry all my life. When I became and EMT, it was one if my great accomplishments, I was very happy. I started to work for a busy system in the City of Syracuse, and I was doing OK. At the end of my 15 hour days, I was in serious pain, but i got up every morning at 4am to go to work and do it all over again. But the pain got worst, i was barely able to stand on my feet less carry a heavy bag with an oxygen tank. I took a medical leave to address my condition. Resulting that I have arthritis on my back and my knees are deteriorating and I have tendinitis on my wrist. Anyone with arthritis now that pain only gets worst and it never gets better, I started taking medications for the pain that wouldn't allow me to drive the ambulance in the state. So I had to extend my leave indefinitely. My neck started to hurt, along with my ankles, and even so I decided to start going to school for cosmetology more standing up and more wrist work, What was I thinking? I figure I need to continue working on something I like doing but I want to make more for my work, and I want to work when I want to ( when not in pain). Anyways Its been a journey I am half way my journey (http://bbgbeauty.blogspot.com). My brother ended up in the hospital, also my mother. My brother had developed sleepanea, a sleeping disorder mostly on obese people. He weight at almost 600 pounds. He had let himself go. He was in the hospital for many months until he was able to get out he now weights around 550. He can barely walk, or breathe he ended up with a tracheal tube for life or until he gets his weight under control. Now my mother is battling her foot to diabetes in the hospital and they ha to amputate all her toes. I go trough a lot with them and finally get them into my home and they doing a little better. But its far from over, my mom goes again more times to the hospital and still struggling to keep her leg now in top of everything my boyfriend ends up in the emergency room because of his diabetes. I said to my self no more... I decided I am not going to end up like them, to this date I don't have diabetes, I might be in the border of Sleepanea, I might already have it. I don't have high cholesterol but my blood pressure is very high and I take medications for these. I talk to them about loosing weight and that we could do it together, they seem reluctant to the idea of eating less and healthier. I guess I am on my own right now. Each person's health is their own decision. My mom is somewhat supportive, she "tried to keep me under control with sweats" and by trying i mean she waves them in front of me and says resist the temptations! lol . My boyfriend has gone so far to the info group and support groups in the area for me and have allow me to expend a little extra on healthy foods. We all know that healthy food is more expensive... but thats another topic. So I went to the information group to gather information about the Gastric Bypass Surgery, and I have learn a lot. I also went online to research, and I been to support groups in the area. I filled my paperwork and submitted to the surgeons. I am awaiting a date to start the process. It should be this week. They called me last week but I was missing my doctors referral, which hopefully they faxed today. I been on a diet on my own so i can gradually start my transition to better eating. Its been hard. I am limited to 1,400 calories a day, witch is not much compared to what I was eating before. its like torture, to the point that I don't want to leave my room into the world because everything is food, advertised, in commercials, int he internet, on games, in my kitchen, my family and kids, across the street next door, its everywhere, the temptations are all there, its worst than drugs. And for someone that has been big since a child, and never been restricted on what I can eat because my motto was, "I am going to die anyways might as well die happy" Well, i rather die happy but not suffering restricted to a bed or not able to enjoy life. I want to be able to fit in the roller coaster so when my daughter goes in a date I can follow her and get in the same rides as her and her boyfriend. I want to be able to fit on normal clothes and spend $20 less on a shirt. I want to be able to run after my future grand kids, I want to be able to have a snore free sleep, and wake up energized, I don't want to be afraid of a stroke or diabetes. I want to keep all my limbs, I want to be able to work and make money! I want to be able to wash the dishes with less pain on my back and knees, and I want to be able to go back to being a great EMT and live a long healthy life. And more than anything I want to go to my birth country and shove it on their faces that I was able to loose weight and I ams till beautiful as I was before. So this is why I decided to do the gastric bypass. Even thou a lot of people say you can do it without the surgery, I might... but YES i am opting for the easier way, where I will have less chance of failure. Once my stomach is smaller, I will able to be full with less food thus being different from now, that I eat less but i am still hungry. And I don't care if people don't agree with me on doing this surgery, it my decision, and if I am weak for doing it, so be it. Pre-Operation: Currently I weight 280 pounds I lost 3 pounds in 2 weeks. Here are some of my current pics, They are gross, but I want you to have an idea of the real situation and have a visual concept of my progress.

from what I've been told......... plan to take 2 weeks off work for a desk job and 4 if you have to do a lot of manual labor.

I took 2 weeks and I am a Secretary.

Concentrate more on your weekly loss than daily loss. I can hover the same for days, then all the sudden drop 2 in a single day. It's crazy. Once I moved to solid foods I felt the same way, but week after week I am still losing, and most importantly dropping inches. Have you been measuring and taking photos? I find the photos to be the best motivation. I have the same outfit I wear week to week, then take a series of facing each direction with only my underwear on (not publishing those). I also have the mandatory shot in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, and I have already been able to do the obligatory both legs on one side of my jeans photo. Crazy! I am only 2.5 months post-op.

Congrats! i've been stuck in the same place 2.5 weeks... hoping to beat it soon too.

Dear Dr. Watkins: Thanks for the clear and informative post on the viability of the stomach post GPS. I am sure to be aFUTURE patient, as I have read enough now that I am letting my insurance approval for the lap band go unused and saving money for the surgery. As I prepare, by educating myself, three burning questions have come to mind about long-term GPS which are somewhat related to this post, and others may also be interested to know: 1. If my stomach is folded in on itself indefinitely, is there any chance of the folded up part growing bacteria, or getting an infection or peritinitis from being all folded up??? Say... could food get stuck in those folded up parts and fester??? I read this somewhere, and hope its not true. 2. If my stomach is folded up indefinitely, what if I ever needed to find out if I had cancer... would an MRI be able to "see through" the folds??? Hope this never happens, but it did cross my mind. 3. Some woman on the Lap Band site claims that GPS is the a "modern version of stomach stapling," and that after time, there will be leaks and cracks and horrible consequences as we get older. While I realize this surgery is still experimental, wasn't it done in Greece for a number of years? Has that terrible result actually happened to anybody??? And... why arent' more doctors doing this? It is so cool. Thank you kindly, I am so glad they put up this site as information is hard to find.

Angie, Yes I think traditionally the 6 mini meals is regarded as a good way to safely diet, but lap-band does have it's own rules for a reason. Although after surgery before you get restriction (bandster hell) my surgeon did recommend mini meals if needed. I'm at a point that I have good restriction and eat about 1/2 cup to cup of food per meal (not a 1/4 cup). Typically most people eat between 1000-1300 calories a day with the band. There all times when we all reach plateaus, but I've been banded for almost 7 months and have had consistent weight loss (about 2.5 pounds a week). Right now I can't really give you a lot of drawbacks. I've had great weight loss yet I'm still able to eat most foods. For me this has been great because I don't feel deprived like I would on a diet. Do your research and ask you Dr. all those questions - they are good ones. Good luck with your decision!

9/27 is 3 months for me. I've already dabbled with romaine lettuce and raw spiniach and been ok. I ate two bites and had no issues. I've been eating raw spinach and romaine in a half a sandwich, or wrapped with meat and cheese. I'm going to try to eat an acutal salad this weekend. I just make sure to chew really well and remind myself to eat slow. That all said, I've also had zero issues eating anything... I'm sorta disappointed by that. I have to be on top of it and make sure to not take advantage of that, something I've just realized this week.

I still have 1 teaspoon of sugar in my coffee every day. I couldn't find a sweetener that I liked so I've been drinking it this way since day 1 post op & my NUT is fine with that. I'm 18 weeks post op & I've lost 58 lbs. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I was having head hunger all day yesterday. About noon I gave up the fight and told myself to just do what you want to the rest of the day, and get it out of your system. The result of that decision was by 5 or 6 I was tired, grumpy, no energy, and sitting on the sofa eating goldfish ( I dont even really love goldfish, I mean theyre OK, but I dont love them). The old me really came out yesterday, and I did not like it! My 12 year old said, "Mom whats wrong with you"? Yes, a 12 year old noticed the mood change due to food before I did. It reminded me how good I am at ignoring myself. One good thing did come out of yesterday though, I got a glimpse of my past, and without a doubt can say "I WILL NOT GO BACK". I can't believe I used to be that miserable most of the time. I homeschool my 4 kids, and I don't think I have adjusted well to the schedule changes we have instituted in the past couple of weeks. Did I mention in the past couple of weeks I have only went to the gym once or twice a week? So, today is a new day. Ive got a great eating plan for today. I am going shopping later so I can be prepared for myself, because the last time I shopped I really think I had my family in mind and not myself. Lastly, I will go to the gym today and WORK! I'm looking forward to today and reaquainting myself with the new me!

thought i was the only one yesterday i caved half peanut butter jelly later one pc pizza sum pita bits and a waffle cone from wendys not very happy with myself feel like a failure...and did i say im only four weeks out...

I started out around your weight...227 on the day of surgery...I am 5'8. I had a stall last week at 4 weeks out...In fact, I gained three pounds..It was the week I introduced soft foods and I also did not exercise that week...But this week I kicked my workout game up a notched and I lost the three I gained and an additional 3 mo pounds...So I thus far, I have lost 27lbs including 1 week pre-op where I lost 5lbs...While the sleeve is a great tool, I am doing my darnest to help it with the weight loss by sticking to a workout regime...I started walking 3 miles at 60 minutes about 2 weeks post op...Now I walk/jog 3 miles at 46 minutes. I am working toward 30 minutes...I say all this to say I want to really maximize the first 6 mo of the sleeve loss...I want to be that non-ideal case and hit my goal 155-160lb within 6 mo. And that only happens with hard work both in being good with diet compliance and working out...I got 50lbs to drop over the next 5 months...I am going as hard for it as I did for cold stone creamery ice cream on double stamp day Mondays...

I went to the dr. Yesterday for my 6 week check up. I lost 30 lbs since the day of surgery. Major stall last week Anyway, I was talking to the receptionist. She told me I looked great. My skin was clear hair looked nice etc. Joking around I said " oh I thought I would have lost more ." And she said " because you are so small, it will take you two years to lose your weight. " Two years??? Is that what everyone experiences? I'm by no means small. I started at 231.

Hello! My name is Sondra and I will be having my vertical sleeve surgery in 3 weeks. I am having a revison from the lap band to the sleeve. I had battled with having a revision surgery for about 1 year now. When I finally got the nerve to make the appointment for a consultation I called and canceled. I felt like a failure because I gained the weight back from the first surgery. But after praying and talking it over with my husband I made a second appointment and kept it. What really helped was the support from my husband and a very dear friend who had the surgery as well. We both struggled with our weight all of lives and thought the band was what we needed. While we both continued to struggle with our weight while having the band, my friend was never able to get off her high blood pressure meds. I was just blessed to not have any medical problems that required meds. Long story short after my friend had her surgery and said it was the best thing ever, she is officially 3 months pre op, down 41 lbs and off her high blood pressure meds. I was inspired yet motivated to make the lifestyle change. I received the call on April 1st (Yes April Fools Day) that my surgery was approved and that they could schedule the surgery for April 30th. Take note when they called I was taking a nap so I thought it was a joke. I had a ton of questions like do I have to go thru the classes or psych evaluations. To my surprise no, just get my lab work done, see the dr for post op and then have my surgery. I am still shocked because I hear of so many people waiting for thier approvals. I guess you get what you pray for. I am still new to this sight and learning how to maneuver thru everything but I want to post my pictures and interact with others who have the same issures that I may have but until then..COUNT DOWN TO A NEW ME!

I was wondering if anyone here gets adequate restriction on one fill and if so, how much saline was instilled? From what I am reading here, it seems very few people achieve restriction with one or even two fills. Since I am getting my first fill on 5/25 (exactly 8 weeks post-op), I was wondering if people feel ANY difference at all with a first fill. Also, what is the average "wait" time before you had a second fill? :help: Thank You

Well, I have gotten off track with the 5k. I signed up to run a 5k in May, so I no longer have 9 weeks to prepare. I am running/walking 5k Monday through Friday with breaks on Saturday and Sunday. Today I finished it in 44 minutes. This is improving from 53 minutes. I am getting there, but this running is kicking my butt!!!

Yes it is just 3 days a week. Welcome Amoud!!! Thanks Luluc. I used to be a runner. There is a 5k/10k locally in September. I would love to be able to run the 10k by then. Thanks so much for the encouragement. Amy