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Chaya: IMO you can do this. I am a total bread lover, tortilla's and pasta lover...Or, let me reframe that, I use to be. Now I am not that happy with eating those staples. Once you get to normal weight, you most likely can eat more veggies along with an adequate amount of protein. It's really no big deal. Just the fact you have diabetes is a major reason to have this surgery. The studies show that the early on individuals with wls surgery are more likely to not develop diabetes. I just down load some more studies on wls and eating and need to read before I quote. JUST DO IT! You won't be sorry........

The surgeons at Johns Hopkins strongly advocate for gastric bypass if you have diabetes. Bypass is more likely to cure it. Are you talking to a surgical center of excellence for weight loss surgery?

I am 16 1/2 weeks out and have lost 81% of my excess weight. I don't believe the stats either.

Hello fellow sleevers! These forums have really been helpful for me to find answers in addition to a lot of reading on WLS (pre-op and post-op) from Amazon and the local library. Now I would like to start posting a few questions. Perhaps others will gain something out of my post of others that respond. In the past couple of weeks, I have been getting a sharp jabbing pain on my right side below the rib cage. It feels pretty deep and kind of pulses. It is usually temporarily and goes away within 20 minutes. However, the intensity as well as the frequency has been frequency so it is starting to concern me. My wife keeps saying that it is incision pain (and it is close to an incision), but it feels different from other incision pain, deeper. Incision pain is usually on the surface and feels like, well, a incision pain. Sorry, I don't know how else to explain it. I haven't been taking any prescriptions for the gallbladder as some have suggested, but I take just about every other type of post-op Vitamin under the sun as well as prilosec for the acid. I haven't had acid yet so am glad about that. I do throw up perhaps once a day, but it mostly my own fault because I have a bad habit of eating too fast and sometimes too much. Even a bite or two over my 3 oz of Protein will give me a stuffed up feeling in the throat where it definately feels like it will come up in the form of slimes or just food. I know this is my fault and am working on it. Diet is very conservative and has served me well since the surgery. I have lost 80 lbs in 2 months. I eat most protein at around 100 grams and also over 100 oz of some kind of liquid which is usually flavored. I used to drown myself in tap Water every day before the surgery because it tasted fine. Now I can't stand it because of heavy mineral taste. Also water like Desani does this to me also- what gives? Some bottled water is fine. I can't do milk due to lactose intolerance introduced after surgery so am on soy now. I don't eat carbs unless it is part of the protein I am eating and am hardly eating any vegatables because full after protein (sometimes each with dinner meal). Instead I eat a scoop of a veggy shake product that is low carlory and low carb. I tell me wife it tastes like hay! I don't really care as long as it is going to keep me healthy over the long run. If anyone has advice on the jabbing pain, that would be great. It is not really a huge issue yet, but don't want to end up on the surgery bed due to an emergency gall bladder surgery. I am thinking about visiting my Primary Care Physician as I have not done this since my surgery two months ago from yesterday (July 2nd). Thanks for advice everyone! I appreciate it.

Majority of weight loss patients regardless of shape tend to lose first in the face and shoulders. From there it begins to lose where ever it wants. I lost in the arms and belly next. I was left with huge legs and behind and that was when it began to get really difficult for me. I had to work really hard to get the rest off. Not complaining, just stating facts. I became so lopsided I decided to have liposuction to cure the areas I felt would never go away. I'm glad I did, I feel much more proportionate now.

I'm currently in the middle of my two week diet before surgery. The center that is performing my surgery sets you up with an eating plan with Meal Replacements they prescribe... Plus a sensible high Protein with vegetables meal... Like an expensive version of Slim Fast! My LORD am I hungry. It wasn't as bad last week while I was at work, because I stay busy... but, this weekend has been torture. I'll make it, however. Eye on the prize. I've finished getting all my supplies for the surgery and at least the first three weeks after surgery. It's funny, because all these folks who have been so supportive this past month are starting to freak out on me and I think they want me to freak out also... I'm gonna smack the next person who tells me, "Well, if you can do this two week diet.. why don't you just keep doing it and lose weight?" I'm going to smack them on both sides of the head, I tell ya. But, I'm still looking forward to the surgery. It's like a big jumping off point! Had to rant.

Hi Due to some complications I have had to have 3cc removed from my band. This is the first time since being banded that I have experienced any complications. I have to admit I am having a little trouble dealing with it. I am really being tested now on how much I have actually learned about eating correctly. I have little or no restriction for the first time in over a year. I have to admit I am petrified that I am not up to the task, and that I will start to gain weight. I will eventually be able to start having fills again, but it will be a slow process. I am within 15 to 20 lbs of my goal weight. Any advise from anyone who has gone through something similar would be greatly appreciated. How do I stay on the right track?

Thanks and congrats on the weight loss..

Also, my cousin had the band done a year ago. She just found out that she has gall stones, & has to have her gall blatter removed. Her dr told her that happens with rapid weight lose in alot of people. She's done very well with her weight lose, although she wasn't as big as me, but has had alot of complications.

Very, very interesting. All sleevers should read this. Although somewhat technical for the non-medical population of the forum, I think we should all be aware of the 6-year information and on the alert for the possibility of regaining some of the weight. Being aware may make us more vigilant about falling back into old habits. Thanks for the link, Lau12345...Kathe

Wayno - question for you.....did you lose any weight during the 6 months??? I didn't lose a pound and am worried that the insurance co. will deny me because of it. I actually managed to stay the same to the pound for the last 5 months. My final nutrition appt. is next Wednesday - do you also have Horizon POS?? I'm in NJ - what state are you in?

Thanks for all the replies! Yesterday was just a tough day! I was just so sad all day. We just put so much emphasis on food in our lives I guess I was actually in mourning about how my life is going to be so different from now on. I do feel better today. I went to my weight loss surgery support group last night and it helped so much. If any of you are not part of a support group I recommend that you find one! There were people there that are post surgery and pre surgery. It helped me a lot just listening to their stories. My surgeon also spoke to our group about being bored or stressed and wanting to eat. He encouraged us to find other hobbies or new activities to do. It was a very good meeting. Thanks to all for the encouragement!

Been banded nearly 1 year now and I can tell you that after many fills and un-fills I am at a good place. I eat slowly, but I find I dont have to eat as slowly as I did when I was filled tighter. I eat anything - there is nothing off limits to me. Im at 6 cc's and I dont get anything stuck anymore. However, I spent 8 months getting stuck and throwing up. Dont thinkk going tighter means more weight loss... it didnt for me. Like others have said, not allowing anything to pass over your throat until its mush is KEY. So, no matter what you eat, IF YOU ARENT OVER FILLED, it shouldnt be a problem

Mind you, I've been above a 40BMI for over 5 years but every time I went into the clinic, they never took my weight. They took all my vitals and temperature but no weight. I have completed everything for my insurance (6 nut visits, psych visit and met with the surgeon). All I have left is the endoscopy and pre-op visits.

Cathy, I am a type 1 diabetic and my weight loss was good at first but I've been at a stall for a while. My doctor told me that my weight loss would not be as fast because of the diabetes.

Scared but happy and excited to finally do something big in my life that will help nit only with my weight but with my health. Its going to take a lot a dedication but I'm ready! Take back control of my life and help start a wonderful future: )

Congratulations!!! Technically due to my weight and height ratio, I am obese but I am not morbidly obese and I will take that any day.

Has anyone had a baby since surgery? My husband and I have been trying for 9 years.... I was sleeved December 14th lost 40 lbs. so far, I know I have to wait at least a year I was just wondering if there were any success stories? I'm working out daily... 1 hour a day , every day I'm still stuck in this stall, I do slim fast thinking about doing weight watchers also...

Hi! I'm (obviously) new here. Anyhow, I'm from the Philippines and I'm going to be banded on May 11, 2009. My surgeon is Dr. Rey Santos and I think he's going to perform the surgery with 4 other surgeons. I've actually had a chat with my surgeon already and have already raised my questions and concerns (mostly drawn from reading the posts here. Hehe). Admittedly, after reading the Complications section, I'm still a bit afraid of what can happen post-op. But, I'm really trying my best to stay positive. I really want to become healthy. So, just a little background info. I'm 22 years old and my BMI is currently at 41. Since I'm Asian, I am most definitely morbidly obese (35 is the cut-off for us) I'm at my heaviest right now at 257 pounds. I'm 5'6 and I'm an incoming 2nd year medical student. Fortunately, I don't have any complications from being obese. My lipid profile is normal, no diabetes (no family history either plus my blood sugar is usually around 80s to 90s), no hypertension, no PCOS, no chest pains, some slight insulin resistance, etc. The only thing that's really bugging me right now is that my ankles hurt sometimes. Actually, when they started acting up, that was the time I really started to worry and considered Lap-Band. Ever since I was three years old, I've been overweight. I tried to lose weight when I was 14 years old and enrolled myself in a gym that summer. I lost 30 pounds that time and from 210, reached 180. But I gained the pounds I lost eventually and then some. After that, I still worked out every summer but I wasn't able to lose as much before. I tried cardioboxing too, South Beach Diet, Sibutramine and even Orlistat (yeeech). All of them helped decrease my weight but not significantly. And I gained them all back eventually. I had two nutritionists but they weren't able to help as much. So there. That's basically the story of my battle with obesity. I'm sorry if it's so long. Haha. I have this tendency to overshare information. You guys are really supportive and I'm really glad to have found this community. I hope I'll get to know all of you more. :thumbup:

Wow Jen! That was a great story! I appreciate u for the encouraging words. Thank u for the compliments and yes I will be so happy that the weight is falling off instead of gorging food like I used to also. It is true everyone that has this surgery will be faced with food mourning and it's all in how u look at it. I am happy that there are options for my birthday cake(sugar free) and whats funny....that's the only time I eat cake all yr!! And I'm a crying baby over it! Ha! Thanks for all the comments guys, I truly feel better and the count down begins! ☺☺????????

I am through Kaiser and finally going to meet the surgeon for a consult I wonder how much longer before surgery. I only lost 5% of our weight and not the 10% they told us Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I paid for my surgery myself and did not have too large of a bmi. It was bad but not as bad as it could be so I too am guilty of going through that phase. I wasn't required to lose weight or go on a diet until 2 days before my surgery. I had 4 week long "food funeral". You don't want to give yourself a heart attack a month before your surgery so be careful.. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I’m 10 years out from having a gastric sleeve and I’m close to my pre-op weight. I am so frustrated and disappointed with myself. I guess I stretched my stomach out. Is there anyone out there with this problem ?

Thank you so much for your encouragement. I have a coworker that had it done a year ago and has started gaining. Although I did see her eat chili fries and popcorn today...