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Hi, I'm post-menopausal and somewhat of a lightweight too. My surgery date BMI was 35.8. I have lost 10% of my body weight in the first month followiing surgery and I am on track to lose another 10% by the end of month 3. I'm happy with my weight loss. I have seen others losing a lot more, but I'm not sure of their BMI. And I've seen some people losing less. For me the surgery is a huge success. I already feel so much better and I'm thrilled to be in regular sizes and shrinking at a pretty good clip. Lynda

I have not had any of these problems. I tend to under eat my sleeve. Oh wait, In the beginning, I use to have food sit right in my esophaus which felt really wierd, but would be gone in 10 minutes. I do have alot of constipation which can sometimes be painful passing. But other than that, no problems. I do have stalls like everyone else. But overall, no slimes, I do burp but not much and I have alot of gas and I fart!. I can handle these. I love my sleeve.

I am never hungry. I do not have cravings. Eating bothers me greatly. I had RNY on 6/19/14, and have not wanted food since. This may sound like a blessing, but it makes getting my protein requirements near impossible. I have tried so many different things and nothing appeals to me. I truly have to force myself to eat. Any one experience this?

Omg the count down has begun for me & I have 4 days till surgery. I was never on liquid diet but asked to loose certain amount which I did. I can tell I am about to get my period. Lucky me recovery w/ period uggh.. my concern is I get a lot of edema during this time. Alot would be usually I can put on close to 10 pds just in Water weight :/ As of now I am 8pds over does anyone know if they will delay due to this? Also should I call and run this by Doctors office or just leave things alone and go in as planned? Ty for any answers.

Getting 60-80 Grams of Protein and 64-100 ounces of Water are the only things I was ever concerned with. I never counted calories other than a few spot checks just so I could speak the "language" of other patients on the forums. 600 calories the first couple months 800 calories at 4 months 1000 calories at 6 months 1200 at 8-10 months maintenance of 1400-1600 somewhere around 14 months postop These weren't purposeful calorie "goals", just basically the calories I was able to comfortably consume at the time, given the type of food I was eating, Even though I wasn't counting calories, I made an effort to NOT restrict my intake. I didn't want my metabolism getting screwed up from an extended low calorie diet. I always just ate when I was hungry and just until satisfied, not full. I've Never once checked grams of carbs or fat along the way.

So it's been six weeks since my surgery, and I can't wait to get my first fill. This is truly Bandster Hell and I am so frustrated I could scream!! I haven't felt any restriction since the second week after my surgery. I don't think I've lost as much as I thought I would by this point. I dropped 10 lbs before surgery and probably another 18 or 19 lbs since then. I know, I know -- everyone is different, but my stomach growls SO much and I'm trying so hard to stick to a healthy food plan. Not being able to drink liquids with my meals has been a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. I went out to dinner last week with a girlfriend, and the waiter couldn't believe that I didn't want any water. "Are you sure?" he kept asking. "Can I get you something else, like tea or coffee?" I know he was trying to be helpful, but really -- no means no. Anyway, thanks for letting me vent. It does help... :thumbup:

Hi BarbBee, I totally hear you! As I read your message, it was if I was writing it. In fact, I posted for the first time on Friday (10/26) and had the same fears. I am in the 4th day of my liquid pre-op diet. It's nasty and harder than I thought it would be. I don't know why I thought it would not be a huge deal, with the whole food addiction thing you talked about. I am being banded in 4 days (Nov. 2) and I also worry about failing, especially with the holiday season looming. But I am trying my best not to think of failure as an option. My best to you and know that many of us feel exactly the same way you do. Robin :boink:

I have been battling anemia since my intake exam. It has become a problem for me. They said that if I am still anemic before surgery they won't do it. My surgeon though, ALSO asked me to lose 20 pounds (which I did.) Then the nutritionist asked me to lose 10 more pounds (Which I did. ) The anemia is worse than EVER. And they want me to go on a liquid fast for two weeks before surgery. How is that going to solve my anemia? I feel caught between a rock and a hard place. I am trying to eat Iron rich foods. I have been taking a one a day plus iron. Eating total Cereal for Breakfast and three ounces of red meat at dinner, while still keeping it to the 1200 calorie limit I've been set at. But I'm still anemic. And on nov 3 I am stupposed to start a liquid fast to shrink my liver. I expect my rbc to go downhill from there unless I cure myself real good. Any ideas? I'm so frustrated. It's like starving myself while curing a chronic problem. It's way too hard. I am doing all the nutritionist said and even she's at a loss. How long does it normally take to cure anemia? I'm getting so discouraged. Does anyone know what I can do , especially during a liquid only phase of the pre op diet, to cure myself of chronic anemia? I am taking the one-a-day plus iron pill. Should I go buy extra iron tablets and kind of take a bunch of them each day or something? I am so frustrated and I really don't know what to do. My nutritionist gve up and said ask the pcp. My pcp just shrugged and asked abut my periods. No magic shot in the arm to take it away or anything. I still feel like this is going to jeapordize getting the surgery. I've tried so hard to lose all the weight and do everythng they said. I hate to not get the surgery after all this. can you help me?

Hi, I am having trouble staying on the 10 day liquid pre-diet. Also, I'm almost sad to not eat candy out of the work candy dish - but I'm not eating it. I didn't realize how much that meant to me, which I find pretty weird. Unfortunately, although I'm not eating anything really bad, every day I eat something and I'm supposed to be on liquids - cottage cheese or a piece of low fat cheese. I have lost since Friday, but I just want to make sure I can do liquid before being banded on Feb 2, so the post op liquid 10 days will not be so hard. So yeah, I definately know what you mean!!!

Hello everyone! I've been reading and gathering info for so long now, I thought it was finally time to join on and say hello. This forum has been amazingly helpful, and you all seem so wonderful, I'm really happy to have found my way here :couch2: I'm Ann, 22, from Northern California (Windsor to be exact). I'm scheduled for banding with Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana on Sept. 28, 2006... Only 3 weeks to go! It's still conditional on my funding coming through 100%, so feel free to cross your fingers for me I am beyond excited, I can't even express it. Like many of you I'm sure, I've tried EVERYTHING to try and lose weight for the past 10 years. I've had some success, but apparently "long-term" is not in my vocabulary if you know what I mean. I'm just ready for a permanent change, so that I can find permanent success. I know that it will still take alot of work, I'm just tired of it being a constant struggle - especially one that feels like a battle I'm always losing. I fell like the band is just calling my name! Again, I'm really happy to here, and looking forward to getting to know you all.

I have Humana and it sucks. They only cover a max of $5,000 so I would have to come up with the other $10-15-20,000!!!!! AND they require all the preliminaries of 6 months of everything...dieting, counseling, etc. I've got that pretty well covered as I've tried EVERYTHING to lose weight. My primary doc says lapband is the answer for me...I'm diabetic, BMI of 48, sleep apnea (though not actually tested/diagnosed), swelling of legs and feet, and finally, chronic lower back pain that I'm getting epidural shots for (UGH!) etc., etc. It's so not fair and I'm so discouraged.

Yes. Had VSG 9/19 and swollen and lumpy.

I just had surgery on 12/19 and got both at recommendation of my doctor. I can't offer as much information as the others but my doctor mentioned a study by Duke University that I read up on. It seems to help people lose more in the beginning. It does add a possible extra complication - for a few the stomach part that is folded over (so to speak) gets inadequate blood flow and causes issues which I think are only resolved by more surgery. So just do your research and weigh the risks.

Gonna tell you a little story which I am sure a few of the readers have heard. I have struggled with weight loss ALL my life, weight watchers, full on liquid diets that were promoted from my local hospital, Jenny Craig, personal trainers with low fat diets. You know the whole up and down routine, not that I ate horrible food, but I liked to eat salad, meat/potato etc..Portion control was one of my biggest issues. I met my ex husband (YES EX) and I was a size 16, then due to a skiing accident where I had to have my knee reconstructed I put on some weight and ended up a size 18. We got married and I was back east not knowing anyone and he had to travel for work sometimes up to 3 months at a time. I put on more weight eventually at a size 24. However right after we got married I started to hear you need to exercise, you need to lose weight, you can diet eat this and that. I will show you how, (mind you he had a belly and looked pregnant) But I NEEDED to get down to what he deemed to be a good size for me about a size 2 and he would show me stick women (not making fun of anyone but Women that were 5ft8-5ft 10 with LONG legs.. very lean.. I am 5ft4 with short legs, and usually an hourglass shape even when down to a size 12. No way in hell I am going to be straight up and down and look more like a gymnast. When I finally decided to go for a consult, I got the same grief. That is the easy way out, you can do it on your own, you don't have enough will power, it is all in your head and the list goes on. I heard it will cost too much money, however it was going to be covered for the most part via insurance. I had lost my Father to Cardiac Arrest suddenly, knowing heart issues, diabetes,high blood pressure etc ran in my family which made me really decide. Then my Mother ended up being diagnosed with Colon Cancer, so we add another thing to the list. I made the decision, he kinda did the support coming to the hospital etc but sort of felt like he was my hall monitor. I had to tell him to really back the hell off and I had decided at that point that I did not trust his intentions. He had made comments such as when you lose weight are you going to leave me? During the pre op diet I was on full liquids only for 2 weeks. I was at home and what magically appears in the house but him with a couple of bags of nothing but junk food. Everything from tasty cakes, ice cream, chips, dip, chocolate bars (king size Hershey the MEGA ones which he sat and ate a whole one himself) It really drove it home that for someone to love you and to try to support you that would actually make a junk food stop intentionally when you cannot eat. If this was a normal thing that was done then it would have been far more acceptable, but it was not the normal thing done in the house. I got through surgery, it was interesting how as my ass started to get smaller and I was getting more curvy vs round that he couldn't keep his hands off me. His reactions and jealous behavior when I needed to be with my family through my Mothers Cancer struggle and then when she died, It was pretty much putting me in the middle of a Dying Mother, my sister who had a child under a year old, and him who was generally gone most of the time anyway. He wanted me home even though he wouldn't be there anyway. We did go through the motions of some Marriage counseling, but honestly I was flat out DONE at that point. I was getting my ducks in a row,a last ditch effort he actually canceled all my authorized credit cards that were with him THINKING that he could stop me from doing anything. I had backup credit cards he was not aware of, socked money aside, made my game plan, got storage and moved stuff out. Finally leaving, and filing for divorce the same day. I stayed with friends in a couple of different location before moving back to California. I did have some Fluid backed out because I was unsure when I could get my band checked. Move forward to now I am happily living with the most awesome/smart wonderful man. He never really paid much attention to me having the band there wasn't much restriction. I went May 24th and had another fill and have another Doc visit July 12th. He went in with me and got some of the lowdown on how the band works, came in, knows my weight, loves me anyway. He is 6ft3 with long ole legs, and a high metabolism. He loves my short roundish stuff, he fixes us Protein shakes in the morning, he cooks band friendly foods and keeps it at smaller quantities, smaller plates and I can talk to him about my kinky relationship with food. When I went through mourning again for it, when I had a few stuck episodes, he is supportive. We hit the pool together, and he just picked us up some yoga mats because I have expressed interest. I never hear anything about my weight, how I need to lose it to be this or that, we do not fight or argue. We are best of friends and there isn't anything I cannot tell him. He went out and researched gummy Vitamins so that I can keep up on them and not have to swallow all those pills and brought them home! I guess what I want to tell you is that you might love this guy, or you might think you do. Maybe he does Love you in his own way, however sometimes people settle to be with someone and it is not the right situation. Sometimes so called LOVE can be in a manner that is not healthy. People do really bizarre and weird stuff to people they supposedly love and want to be with. There is a REALLY good chance that as you go on with the program and you learn about yourself, get stronger and lose weight you might very well find out that he is not the guy for you. Hold onto your thoughts, dreams, and your own goal. There will be so called friends, relationships, even family members that will say negative things, that will try to sabotage you on your journey. I lost a few friends over the band, I did get a divorce, I did go skydiving and put my head back on straight! I got through all my changes and losses and had some doors close behind me. However I was lucky in taking those risks, that journey that I made and found something that I NEVER thought I would find, MYSELF! So you go and find that kick ass girl that I know you have inside, be strong, be truthful, love yourself! Good luck in your journey! Hugs

After many weeks of waiting, I'm finally scheduled to be banded May 10 in St. Louis by Dr. Van Wagner. The approval should have been a formality, but of course BCBS-NJ took their sweet time-about 8 weeks. The last time it took me that long to get a date was high school. :heh: Pre-op testing this Friday and next Thursday (still dread the upper G.I.). Clear liquid diet for ten days also. So now it's finally sinking in-this is going to happen, and my life is going to change-for the better.

I'm right there with you. I haven't eaten since Sunday and am not the least bit hungry. The most I've been able to get down in a day is a 10 oz Muscle Milk, 20 oz of Water and a bit of broth. I'm sure it will get better but this is a seriously odd feeling!

Oh, I feel for you. I was there last Saturday. I never had any gas until 10 days post op. It was in my shoulders and the top of my stomach. Unfortunately nothing was moving in my stomach, I couldn't expel it nor could I burp. It last for about 12 hours, even though I was taking Bean-o and Gas X. The chewable Gas X worked best for me. I told my surgeon about it, he recommended drinking Water, walking and laying on my back. It was by far one of the worst things I have experienced. I feel for you and try to do everything I can not be in the situation ever again. I take Gas X if I THINK I might have a gas problem. Good luck!

Dumping syndrome and gas any advice?

I just hit the mother-load of all clearance sales at JC Penneys. They had racks and racks of clothes for only $1.97, plus the sale was take an additional 25% off. On top of all that they had a coupon for $10 off a $25 purchase. I had 2 rewards coupons for $10 off any purchase. I bought $25 worth times 2. I now have a full wardrobe in a 2x and a 1X for my total out of pocket price of only $10. Woohoo for me! By my surgery date I was already down 2 sizes. In the last 5 weeks since my surgery I have gone down another 2 sizes. I went to work Sunday morning at 5 am to swap out one of the machines. Thank goodness I was the only person in the plant because as I am walking while holding this huge metal tray full of parts my once tight fitting stretch jeans started falling. I couldn't just set the tray down because it was covered with liquid plastic resin. So, I had to walk through the lab and into the cleaning room with my feet apart trying to prevent my pants from completely falling. By the time I was able to set the tray down my pants were below my butt. Luckily they never made it to my ankles. That Sunday afternoon is when I hit JC Penneys. I went forma size 24 jeans and now wear a tight 16 or a loose 18. WOOHOO!

I am being charged what I feel is an exorbitant out of pocket fee for the hospital's fee for my surgery. My insurance, GEHA, approved 90% of the allowed rate. The doctor's office fee is $200 while Singing River/Ocean Springs is almost $4K! Un-freaking-believable. I should only owe 10% of the ALLOWABLE charge. So, the charge well over $40K for the surgery? I don't think so. I think I'm being screwed. Unfortunately, I will have to pay it and hope I get a refund. I really think I am being overcharged here. Insurance and facility each say the other has the contract as to what the allowable charge is! Grrrrr :thumbup:

I am being charged what I feel is an exorbitant out of pocket fee for the hospital's fee for my surgery. My insurance, GEHA, approved 90% of the allowed rate. The doctor's office fee is $200 while Singing River/Ocean Springs is almost $4K! Un-freaking-believable. I should only owe 10% of the ALLOWABLE charge. So, the charge well over $40K for the surgery? I don't think so. I think I'm being screwed. Unfortunately, I will have to pay it and hope I get a refund. I really think I am being overcharged here. Insurance and facility each say the other has the contract as to what the allowable charge is! Grrrrr

Congrats to you.good luck to you surgery 10/09/2012

I know that it takes longer than that to get the passport, I sent in my son's application on Feb. 17th and we still haven't gotten it. The website for Passports says it takes 10 weeks, and we are on week 12!! I already have a passport as I went to Belgium a few years ago. My son and I are going to Croc, Mexico outside of Monterrey for a missions trip in June, so I hope his passport comes soon! ----- Anyone have any comments about Dr. Zapata and the Mexico banding?

it will be the 19th of july. there always on the 3rd saturday of the month. and there at 10:30am i should be there.

I have a 14cc band and I'm currently at 10.25ccs. I had my most recent fill on 6/3, and I was banded in 9/09. I lost 30 pounds in the 30 days after surgery, and another 14 pounds since then. Discouraged is putting it mildly. But during this last fill I asked for a complete empty and measure, and found that one fill was missed. I was only at 9cc's when I shoudl have been at 10. they put the 9 back, added 1.25 on top, and I'm sore sore SORE from it. feels like I was punched in the chest. The soreness seems to be from gas, which is finally subsiding. And i have restriction. BIG time. Either that or i'm just swollen from the unfill/fill. Time will tell. I feel your frustration on this - i don't know what i'm going to do if this most recent fill doesn't do it for me. I was told that as we loose weight, more Fluid has to be added to keep up. How is that going to work when i'm almost at max level now? I'm not very happy with this whole procedure at the moment, but i'm stuck with it. I wish I could give you advice or encouragement, but right now all i can do is sympathize, and hope we both start seeing a positive result soon. Good luck to you!