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Some of dh's family has been here and so we have been going to do a bunch of tourist type stuff here in Houston. Anyhow, I don't know if its been the stress, the fun, the spending, the lounging, but I have been eating with wreckless abandon. Thousands of calories a day for like a week. I'm scared to get on the scale. So I haven't. Today, as we left the house for another excursion I grabbed my size 22 capris (that are stretched more to a 24 at this point) and they pooched. (pooched= when your jeans zip up but your stomach pushes out so much so that the zipper may go at any moment.) I have a few larger-than-necessary shirts for working out or sleeping, (cotton size 4x shirts), that I was forced to dig into to wear tonight. I didn't have time to break down standing in my closet and admit that 95% of it isn't gonna fit. I know now without stepping on the scale that I am at my all time high weight, probably over 280.. in other words, more than when I was the day I went into the hospital to have my dd a couple years ago. I scanned through the digital camera and saw further evidence. I was shocked to see how huge I have become in photographs. The shape of my face stretched out- my neck is starting to disappear. (I'll post a couple of the pics on here when I have the chance because there's absolutely no way I'm posting them anywhere else.) Ahmmmmmm...... Please let surgery happen soon. I think I might go do the the nutritionist mtg & psych eval anyway. Dh doesn't want me getting my hopes up for it to happen anytime soon. I get irate in my head when he says that. Feels like he's telling me no and since I've already got a father I don't want my dh telling me no. (Can you tell I'm still throwing an internal tantrum?) Sounds ridiculous even when I type it. Somethings gotta happen soon or 'oh my' I'll have nothing to wear out of my house!

Hi everyone! (Month before shakes 354, pre surgery 309, current weight is 254) So last few days I’ve been doing 400-800 calories, 60+ protein and 40 or less carbs and my full 8 glasses of water a day, I’ve lost 10 pounds in 5 days, which is awesome because I’ve been stalled for a bit, I was 309 prior to surgery and now I’m 354, I wanna get down to 199. I’m 8 months out of surgery, is it possible to lose it by June? I just feel like it’s not gonna come off how it should now because I’ve stalled and haven’t lost as much as I should. I’m just scared and worried it won’t be off before summer because that’s my goal. I’m doing chicken, fish, meat for protein, veggies (made cabbage soup too), cheese, and yogurt (no sugar and I add stevia) i just still feel discouraged. I’m 24 if that also helps. Will the weight still come off quick even though I’m 8 months out?

I got the sleeve December 28th. Successful pre-op week long liquid diet and day before clear liquids. 10.5 lb loss Successful surgery, anesthesia hit a bit hard and I didn’t end up fully waking up until middle of the night surgery night. Began walking, could hardly sip, all normal stuff. I could immediately pick myself up and didn’t require assistance in sitting up or walking around, was just extremely tired. Three days post op I began feeling what I assumed were the dreaded gas pains dead center of my abdomen. I called my doctors office, scoured the forums for advice, nothing helped. I tried the milk of magnesia assuming I was backed up, not the case. Tried gasx bc the pain latest 3 days non stop. Couldn’t hardly move, couldn’t sleep, couldn’t walk, couldn’t sit, lay, anything. So! Fast forward to Thursday (6 days post op) and I’m balling on the phone with my doctors office pleading there’s no way this is gas. So they bump my post op appointment to the next morning if I can wait. If not, they say don’t wait to go to the ER. Next morning on Friday my mother rushes me to the office, we barely get through the door and they’re sending us to the ER next door. After many tests, hours of different pain meds that didn’t work...a ct scan shows a prominent Portal vein thrombosis. A massive and extremely painful blood clot in my chest bc of the surgery. Little pre surgery info, I’m extremely healthy. I’ve never had heart burn, acid reflux, diabetes, heart problems, any issues health wise. I’ve now been in the hospital for over a week dealing with the excruciating pain, blood thinners, 6 days of NO FOOD OR WATER, not even ice chips. Talk about torture. So, just a heads up...it’s not always gas pain. This may be super rare, which is what I’ve been told, but still...it sounds like gas pains...it still may not be. If your pain is at a 10 go to the dang hospital.

Hi All, So excited to have found this site! I am 4 days PO and am begining to feel better, was sleeved at Madigan Army Medical Center, Ft Lewis, WA. I was having a weird sensation evertime I drank, kind of like bubbles coming back up but that sensation has passed and now when I drink about 2-3 mins later I get a pain mid-low center chest?? I am taking very small sips. According to my Dr I am able to start full liquids today so I had a few bites of vanilla pudding with some protien powder mixed in, also had about 3 ozs of chocolate slimfast. I am not physically feeling hunger but the smell of food makes me miss it terribly. Anyone have this pain I am talking about?? It passes quickly but just uncomfortable for a minute or so.

I have UHC too and have been waiting...My plan is self funded with a trust from my work so they are like the providers....I had several very specific criterias...they told my dr office that there was NO coverage when I had given the doc's office a copy of the exclusionary policy...which I fit. At the time my only concern was if banding was an option since it said " stapling and bypass". As it turned out, I talked to someone at UHC in the "reconciliation" department ...sound Catholic to me lol .... She was very encouraging and got on a conference call with my doc's office. This was just for the initial consult!!!!! Anyway, then the luck and Lord was with me because I talked to my Benefits director,,,just to find out if banding had been covered or appealed....and was told as of 3/01/08 it would be included in the language!!!! Then, we were given the name of a claims person at UHC to send my file through so it wouldn't be held up due to the new language...that was as of 2 weeks ago...still waiting.... That's my muse!

Hello I was banded on 08/31 and was out for a week exsactly. I just took the pain killers the 1st 2 days, I follow my docs instructions and walked from the moment I woke up,by Tuesday I felt perfectly fine no pain. I just weight myself and lost another 10lbs, have lost 25 in the last 3 weeks, 15 during the 2 weeks shakes and 10 the week after surgery so excited. You will be fine, just follow the drs instructions.

Would like to add...I live my band and I'm 10 pounds to goal no regrets...just wanting to keep safe and healthy.

Yep mine wanted 10%.

I have been seriously trying to be more aware of what I eat, when I eat and the amount I eat at any given time. I have been trying to practice things like chewing foods to mush and sipping beverages slower. I always start off well and can manage pretty well with the fruit and yogurt that I take to work, but by the middle of the day, I feel like I am starving for anything that is either hot or has more substance. You know...FOOD. Although I am still a long way from getting surgery I am trying to create different habits and get my mind right because I know I cant wait until post-op to do it. Funny thing is, I guess because my mind is trying to wrap around these notions, I am noticing different things. I have been drinking alot of water and the last couple of times I tried to drink anything but water (e.g Ocean Spray White Cranberry juice which is my absolute favorite) it tasted incredibly sweet. Today I foolishly went to McDonalds. Although I bought a kids meal instead of quarter pounder, I guiltily ate 2 chicken nuggets, about 10 fries and drank a quarter of the orange drink (if that stuff came out of my faucets I would never leave my house). By the time I arrived home, I had what I like to call a "MC-attack" and found myself in the bathroom wondering what the hell was wrong with me eating that crap because I felt like I had eaten a pound of prunes. Guess like the sweetness of the juice my body is trying to tell me now, what to stay away from. Its probably totally mental but it also kinda worked. You know what pisses me off...when someone who is having the same eating struggles as I am suddenly becomes a expert and offers their opinion on what I should or shouldn't eat. While I lamented over what to have for lunch (I ended up with turkey & swiss on wheat) because I was starving, a co-worker who is in the process of getting gastric, decided to chastise me for saying I wanted "real food" This was after I watched her down a huge bagel slathered with cream cheese for breakfast and then turned around an hour after her lecture to me and attacked the candy dish (its full of the stuff I dont eat) I have for co-workers. I felt like she of all people should understand the struggle. But whatever..:smile2: On a really good note..I was able to get my referral for my appt on Monday with the surgeon and nutrionist before my doctor's office closed for the holiday weekend. I looked it over when I got in my truck and noticed they used the code for "morbidly obese" and although it stung a little, I accepted it is my reality and will hopefully assist with getting approved by my insurance company. :thumbup: Tomorrow is another day..and I will try again to be better towards my goal of eating with a different mindset.

Guess I should've started here first <he-he> 41, 5' 10" banded 7/28/04 weighing in at 268 (was 275 at 1st consult). Since then I am down to 221 (as of 2/16/06) - not as far along as I would've hoped to have been at this point, but only 21 lbs from 'my' goal; my Dr.'s (Iragau / Wynn) would like to see me at 175 (haven't been that since boot camp 6/84). I'll take 200 even, anything more than that would be sweet though!! Banded throug CHRIAS in Wilmington, DE. Since banding I have had mostly sedentary jobs (IT tech help desk) but now am "on the road" for the Geek Squad, so get little time (mostly none) for lunch, so that's helped me A LOT recently. Thanks for letting me "vent" ....

I keep saying I'm going to get serious & set up my nut & psych appts but I still have not. I want to but then feel guilty because dh is still not working (he's not laid off either- it's a weird vortex of manipulation really c/o his co.) Dh has said he doesn't mind me going in for the nut & psych but the conversation always ends up with him asking why we wouldn't tell his family about me getting LB. He's close to his family & as much as I love them too, I have come to the conclusion its better to keep it private, especially since its not happening for sure right now. As I was getting ready for bed, I decided I'm calling to set up the appts for sure tomorrow. Then I started thinking about the actual surgery. If dh's job situation works out, & I get surgery, we're gonna have to tell his family. I have a toddler who I don't want hanging around the hospital (swine flu anyone?) I don't have any of my family close either. I'd be ok on my own a night or two in the hospital but the day of & day leaving we'd need help w/ dd. They will want to know why since we never ask. I don't know if I can give them the hernia excuse. Originally that was my plan but now what if I have a complication & they have to watch dd again? If I claim its hernia surgery I would have to stick to the story or come out a liar. Ughhhh. Its really just two members of dh's family who have big mouths (both men oddly.) I just don't know but I gotta figure it out.:smile2:

Don't knock it but I think asdas own protein shakes work just fine. For me any chocolate, strawberry or latte shakes just all end up tasting the same as each other. Sent from my HTC 10 using BariatricPal mobile app

Banded in 2009; Unbanded 2012 (due to erosion) Lived life 2012-2019 struggling with weight gain and massive depression The decision to have Gastric Sleeve made Oct. 17th, 2019 Contacted my doc for initial consultation (Oct 30th) Self Pay This time...I tell nobody but my CORE family....I can't deal with the stupidity of people who don't understand this life! Here we go....finally getting back to ME Created a new blog to journal ALL of my thoughts and progresses www.SabrinaGoddess.com

Hi, I've been feeling like I'm eating too much, and think I'm already going back to my old bad habits, my NUT program says Protein shake for Breakfast and dinner, a 1cup size of a kinda regular meal at noon (very little carbs and fat) and 2 Snacks in between (fruit). The problem is, I can't stand the flavor of the Protein Shake, I made my own recipe of a high protein dessert which is made of 1 scoop of Protein powder (24 grams) + Greek yogurt (12.9) + milk powder (7.8) + cocoa powder or frozen strawberries and I have it once a day, besides that I try to eat as much protein as I can even in snacks. I know some of you will call me crazy but I feel hunger since 2-3 weeks ago, and I eat mostly out of hunger, let's say, lentils Soup for breakfast 1 cup, fruit with yogurt for snack, my regular lunch (1 cup), protein dessert and another soup or meat for dinner, some times I have a double snack. I don't really have so much trouble with my liquids, 84 Oz, most of the time half Water half 2% milk because I don't like the taste of water. My waiting time between eat - drink - eat is about 10 minutes, some times less without consequences. I stalled at week 3, had dumping syndrome once because I forgot I'm not allowed to have sugary drinks and once out of refried Beans ( and I mean real Mexican REFRIED beans), learned the lesson and never suffered again. I've been losing very slowly for the last 2 week's and I want to know if any of you heard about a stretched pouch this early. I had a gastric bypass last April 29th, initial weight 308, current weight 266. It sounds a lot for 6 weeks, am I living this too fast? Sent from my Sony Xperia

I lost 10 pounds pre-op and 36 post-op, I had a RNY and I have the same concern, first 3-4 weeks were way too rough, could barely eat or drink without feeling discomfort but now it seems I'm doing better and eating more than I should. Sent from my Sony Xperia

I have BCBS... Here's the skinny on the 5 year. They like it a lot, but it doesn't necessarily have to be 5 CONSECUTIVE YEARS. If you can get 5 weights within the last 10-15 years, you should be fine. I was in a similar situation. Instead, I had my grandmother who works at a doctor's office a few states away just manufacture some weights for me. I know, immoral, but after dealing with BCBS for 4 months on this, I am none to happy with their morality standards. My struggle with BCBS has nothing to do with that weight history though, my BMI was above 50. Anywho, suffice to say it is no longer above 50. No one.... not the insurance company, the doctor, no one batted an eye at that 5 year weight history that was fudged for me. In any case, my doctor informed me that not many people have a 5 year CONSECUTIVE history. Remember, the more data you submit to the Insurance, the better off you are... so if you have 20 years off and on, then submit everything you got. Good luck and please let me know how it works.

I got the same thing.. Was told that it is because is the surgery and cutting muscle... Put a heating pad on it.. 20 mins at a time.. It lasted a couple of weeks .. I am much Better.. Sleeved on 10/6.. No more pain!

Me too BlueOctoberGirl! I am 14 weeks out now and for the first 10 weeks I puked every single day...sometimes twice a day!! For the last four weeks it has slowed, thank goodness, to a couple times a week. Mine almost never hurt, just an annoyance really...and I am more worried about the possibility of developing barrett's esophogus, or worse, esophogeal cancer. I can't wait for the week when I don't puke at all!!!

I have one lindt chocolate truffle almost every night. Its 70 calories, but is one of the best parts of my evening. The good thing is that I have never eaten two....only one (I*'m seven weeks post op, and have been doing this for two or three weeks), and before surgery I would have easily eaten 10 before I knew it. Still its against the "rules" but its my one cheat thing per day. Other than that, I actually eat WAY healthier than I did pre surgery, and I exercise every day. Oh, I also eat way too fast, and dont chew enough. I do observe the Water rule, but only because if I drink during or after a meal, it hurts because there is no room for it. oh, also (!) I eat about 1500 calories per day at 7 weeks. But, I'm not sure that is a confession. (?)

So my portion of procedure costs through my insurance is over $8k. I have been saving for two months already and had a little over 10% saved. Then my car broke down! I had to use my entire "car fund" and my "sleeve fund" to fix it. So totally bummed out right now. I feel like this will never happen for me.

I'm going to start out by telling you about my journey. Sorry for the babble. I started my journey in April of last year. I went through all of my testing, dietitian, psych eval, plus some. I was originally scheduled for my op in November. It got pushed to December. A month before my operation, the insurance coordinator came in and told me that the doctor was leaving. I couldn't believe it. Luckily, I was able to transfer to another doctor and saw him at the beginning of December. I had planned to have my surgery over Christmas break. I attend school online and it is virtually impossible to miss class. Also, my husband was scheduled to have a break as well. Things got pushed back..again. The insurance coordinator at the new place was totally confused. She submitted my paperwork to the wrong insurance company, she got my name mixed up with someone else, and she didn't submit the correct documentation. BCBS IL determined that they wouldn't cover me. I was under 40 BMI and I didn't have the required comorbidities, although I do have asthma, gerd, and high cholesterol. I was crushed but I had come too far. I had looked as far as going to Mexico which I thought I would never do. I called the office and scheduled a weigh in. I put 5 lb weight around my ankles, wore heavy clothes, put stuff in my pockets. It was pretty nerve wracking and amusing....but I weighed in over 40 BMI so I was happy. Meanwhile, the insurance coordinator told me to appeal. I wrote a letter, my husband wrote a letter, the whole nine yards. Turned out all they needed was a submission of my weight. It was a predetermination letter not a denial! I took the initiative and submitted the paperwork myself. I about had it by then! I figure I will get news soon. A week later I get a call and the doctor needs to see me. There was no way that I would weigh in if they put me in a gown. I was determined so I ate a bunch of crap. Two weeks later, I went in with weights...in my bra this time (just 2 lbs) and I weighed in. They didn't even put me in a gown. I saw the doctor and he went all through my history AGAIN. It was so frustrating because they introduced a new system the day of my first appointment. Soooo....the doctor speaks to me and tells me that the information has to be resubmitted. Here we go again! I leave the office and they call me and tell me that my psych exam is not there. I knew for a fact they had it. I had the pile of files with me, psych exam and all on the day of my first visit. I told them and this time I was firm. Anyways, I waited for a few days then called the insurance company myself and my submission passed me for a "yes" for predetermination. I was so happy, I called the office and left a message...no call back then straight to voicemail. The following day I had the bright idea of using my husbands phone and I got to the coordinator. Turns out the original coordinator left and the job was handed to the scheduler and she admitted to me that she had absolutely no clue of what she was doing. I guided her through everything and my surgery was scheduled for Feb 10! Thank God! I have had periods of severe anxiety, depression, and mania. They have determined that I have bipolar but it has been up in the air for about 10 years. This whole situation left me on pins and needles. I felt fantastic for the past year (2013) but in December I came close to a mental breakdown. Everything was happening so haphazard and I honestly thought that God wanted me to lose the weight the natural way. I started to have anxiety so bad that it was hard to leave the house. It was really bad. I went to the doctor a few weeks ago and she increased my Effexor. Most of you may be aware of the mania that can occur with an increase in dosage.So here I am. My anxiety is soooo bad and my mania is driving me insane. Unlike many people, I do not enjoy mania. It makes me feel out of control and I HATE it. I'm trying to do my school work and I cannot put my thoughts into clear sentences. I'm anxious about the surgery, school, finances, everything. It is a vicious cycle. I'm concerned with recovery and my mental health. I know that the transition will be difficult but I suppose I need some insight on how any of you have dealt with your situation. I suppose I'm looking for a friend that I can share my journey with that understands how bipolar and mental illness can change with surgery. If anyone uses prayer, that would also be helpful. God is the only thing that keeps me going.

I didnt get a fill my first visit, so it was 10 weeks before I had a fill. Like others said, you need this time to heal. You want your band to set correctly so you do not have problems later with slips and stuff.