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I am preop and preparing for my grocery list and favorite variety of protein shakes. I am going to spend the next 10 days trying different ones. I start my preop liquid diet July 25. So far I have tried muscle milk. I can live with that one. I want a variety as I get bored easily. I will try the one from Costco everyone is talking about. Please feel free to keep recommending drinks. This is going to be a long 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after!

I definately wouldn't go as far as saying that there are no complications in Mexican sleeve surgeries. But I am quite confident in saying they are signifigantly less common. With surgery in Mexico, you are in direct face to face contact with your surgeon for 3-5 days after surgery, the immediate aftercare is much more thorough. If there is a problem, it is more likely to be found before you return home. Not to mention that top Mexican surgeons are far more experienced in this surgery than American or Canadian surgeons are, typically having performed as much as 10 times as many procedures as their counterparts. The typical stay after an American surgery is overnight, and I have heard of people leaving the same day. If by some slim chance you do have a serious complication on a surgery that was performed in Mexico, your choices would be to go back to your surgeon in Mexico, or if that is not an option then you may have to go to the ER. Most Mexican surgeons offer an insurance that in the case of complications it will cover all medical expenses incurred to include emergency flights back to Mexico. Most doctors don't make a habit f mentioning them because the insurance is so rarely needed. It really is more of a piece of mind thing than a good financial investment. The only way I would buy the insurance is if the fear of complication was so great that it was keeping you from getting the surgery.

Well I had got the lap band 10/24/10. My biggest weight was 285 pounds. I lost weight throughout having my bad but at a very slow process. Throughout the years I regret getting the lap band. This year in March I was diagnosed with diabetes and my hypertension returned. My doctor and I decided to remove the band and go for a the sleeve. April 30, 2013 I was 202.8 lbs when I had my procedure done. It's now been six days and I just had my post op appointment. Since the surgery this is no sign of the diabetes and I am now 194 lbs. I'm happy with my choice so far. The recovery is so much better than getting the band. This is a long journey to a healthier new life and a new me. I have not been under 200 pounds since I had my 3rd child. This is a blessing. I struggled a little with the liquids and taking in my protein but I will get better. I even got thrush. These are just little bumps and I will keep you posted with my updates.

Hello everyone: My name is Rydell. I am 20 years old and from Pennsylvania. My entire life I've been struggling with my weight. I'm 5' 9" tall. My current weight is 290 pounds but my highest was 311 pounds. It'd be up, down, then wayyyy back up. Dieting for months and months wasn't successful. Meeting with dietitians and sticking to a 1600 calorie intake wasn't successful. The gym 6 days a week was successful for only a short time, then it all bounced right back on. I finally broke down talked to my family doc ably some weight loss pills..his response was, "what about surgery?" I was scared at first. But it was that very moment that I decided it was time to start the journey that would take me through the rest of my life. After doing a required 6 month weigh in program through my insurance, my surgery date is right around the corner. February 10th yall. I am doing my 2 week pre-op diet and I'm struggling. Any ideas on that? Was anyone only required to do one week liquid diet prior to surgery? Any one around my age experience sagging skin that doesn't bounce back? Any advice welcomed on any topic of the gastric bypass!!!! Just no crude criticism. ❤️ Thank you all, Rydell

My surgery is scheduled for 5/7/19. I’m nervous but excited. I haven’t had many problems with the 6 months preparation. You got this! Sending good vibes!

Same here. My guess is our body thinks we are malnourished. It's freaking out and we are having to go slow until things click. Mine is worse in the morning on an empty stomach. I was sleeved 3/19, I'm so surprised some of you that had surgery after me are doing yard work!

Surgery date 8-19-15. HW 250 SW 244 CW 204. Congratulations to you all.

I had my surgery more than one month ago and I have not lost any weight in the past three weeks. I went for my first fill last week and was told that I already had 5cc in a 10 cc band from surgery and so she added another .7cc. I think I can eat alot of food and I am really worried that my band will stretch. I experience PB alot so I am still adjusting to the eating thing. How much food is too much? I was able to eat two slices of pizza for dinner and I am worried. I feel like I am going to fail at this. I was never a huge eater. My problem was my sweet tooth. Does this band mean that I have to be on a low carb no fat diet for the rest of my life? I am definate;y eating alot less then I was pre surgery but I am so frustrated that I was able to lose alot more pre diet than post. I definately fo not feel like I have enough restriction even with 5.7cc. I do not feel that my appeitie is curbed at all. I am a nursing mother and I am wondering if that has anything to do with it. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Ok...so looking for some advice. First off let me start by explaining that my work schedule is hectic...im out the door by 530am and home roughly 530-6pm Im a mom and a wife so that also keeps me busy. I have a home gym with plenty of equipment, free weights, and bars/weights, pull up bar, elliptical, spin bike, treadmill, bowflex, weight benches and powerline p2x machine with the leg press...so no i never go to the gym and meet with personal trainers because i just dont have the extra time. every night i work out...i run a mile, or spin for roughly 30 min (aka my warm up)...just long enough to get the pre work out to kick in. Here is my routine not too detailed, but what i rotate...usually pick 5 exercises that target that spacific group and do 4 rounds of 10-15 reps Mon- warm up + 1 hr back Tue-warm up + 1 hr shoulders Wed-warm up + 1hr arms/bi's/tri's Thur-warm up + 1hr legs Fri-warm up + 1hr abs Sat-warm up + 1hr chest Sun-warm up + 1hr back And rotate back through the list. So long story short... the roughly 1.5 hours that i have avalible each night is my max time...you know before dinner homework ect. My delema is this...i wanted to do another round of insanity (30 day program) to switch things up...its about 45 min long cd's. Is it worth quitting the weight lifting/warm up to do a month of crossfit style exercise? I only have time for 1 or the other....

I have 130-140lbs that I need to lose. I didn't like the fact that I would have to get fills and all that PLUS I'm insulin resistant with having PCOS and I know the Lap Band isn't the best for that which is why my last surgeon switched me to gastric bypass but I didn't feel comfortable with that. I got July 10th to the first seminar. I'm nervous because of all the complications that can happen but I've had 10 surgeries so far that also had complications but I never had a second thought of having them done. I just need to keep my anxiety at bay

Yes, they bypass is more prone, or predisposed to, ulcers than the sleeve (just as the sleeve is predisposed to GERD.,) but they are a different sort of ulcer than what you have. The bypass tends toward marginal ulcers around the anastomosis (junction) between the new stomach pouch and intestines. This is because the part of intestine that is now immediately downstream of the stomach is not resistant to stomach acid like the duodenum - the upper part of the intestine immediately downstream of the normal stomach, which gets bypassed along with the remnant stomach in the RNY. Consequently, that anastomosis is very sensitive and prone to ulcers, which is the root of the "no NSAID" rule that permeates bariatrics - you don't want to take any medication that could irritate that anastomosis (there are other meds that may be limited, too, but NSAIDs are the most common class.) What I would be concerned about is what caused your ulcer, and whether that cause would be relieved (or exacerbated) by your surgery. Similar to your hiatal hernia and GERD - fixing the hernia will likely correct your GERD and you will be back to "normal" - no more predisposed to it if you get a sleeve, but still possible. One of the problems with the bypass is that it leaves you with a blind remnant stomach and upper intestine, which can't be easily monitored with an endoscopy, so if something develops in that blind section, you may not know about it until things have progressed more than you would like them to progress (possibly to a cancer.) Some express a dislike for the sleeve because if they have a resultant reflux problem then it could lead to Barret's esophagus and possibly cancer, which is a fair concern; however, that is something that can be easily monitored endoscopically if those symptoms develop, and can be treated; problems that may develop in the blind stomach or intestines of the RNY may not be caught until it is too late to treat effectively, so there is a trade off there. You are somewhat caught in the middle, with some contraindications for both of the common WLS procedures. This is where some serious talk, and understandings, with your medical team is appropriate to really get a good handle on your problems going into this, and how those may play out in the future. I/m not so sure that I would be comforted by the matter that the surgeon may be able to work around a problem (such as an ulcer) if that problem is likely to reoccur 5-10 years in the future, and possibly worse - the surgeon is out of the picture by then, but you aren't. There is another alternative that might be worth considering, which would be the duodenal switch - it uses a sleeve, so it doesn't leave a blind remnant stomach, but due to its' malabsorption component, they typically use a larger version of the sleeve which is less prone to GERD problem. Your surgeon may not offer it (it's a more complex procedure, so many surgeons don't offer it) but it may be worth looking into to see if that fits your need. Good luck,

Surgery went well one hour in and out to recovery. Up walking every two hrs. No pain to speak of other than my abdomen feels like I have been punched several times. No throbbing pain of any kind. Hurts a little bit getting out of bed, this is the worst of it. No nausea / vomitting. Came home the same day was late discharge at 10 pm. Hopefully just a few days of this abdomen pain and on to our new lives.

This is crazy, I know but when I was around 26 I had already had two children and got very close to goal weight (not that I kept it off mind you) but I decided that I was going to get a tummy tuck and lipo. I went to a great Surgeon and was thrilled with the results. Fast forward 10 years and guess what? We are having a third child. I was thinking that I would End up with the worst stretch marks. But I didn't get a single one and my tummy is still tight and hard. Weird I know. Would have never guessed that one. I did gain 70lbs after the third pregnancy and have fought my weight but my tummy is stll great. The only problem is that if you do gain weight after tt or lipo it will come back in a different part of your body. Too bad doctors don't tell people that. Anyways, having said that I have stretchy skin. Never have had a stretch mark. Some people gat them some people dont. Keep researching and looking into what's best for you. It sounds like your on the right track. Best wishes

hey sheila.. i'm an ob/gyn and when i tell my friends and family i want to have bariatric surgery most people say the same thing "you're not big enough" "just eat right and exercise". regarding the tubal at the same time of surgery, it is possible but you may end up with more incisions since the sleeve ports are in the upper abdomen. i went to the surgeon and my bmi is 40. i have bc/bs and with my insurance i have to lose 10% of my body weight. now i'm afraid that i won't qualify since my bmi will no longer be 40. i have 3 more pounds to lose. has anyone have experience with this? i have no medical problems (and i want to keep it that way).

I only had the requirement not to eat after midnight the night before, too. It's common to have pre-op diets, but not everyone has them. I would consider your course where you lost 10% of your body weight to be a major pre-op diet!

Can't sleep..... I have to be at Kaiser Richmond CA at 10:30 in the morning! My actual surgery is at 12:30. I don't really have any support...my mom is taking me and is not very happy with my choice to have my sleeve. " you are losing the weight, why get the surgery!" I am getting my sleeve for my own reasons. I am a single mom. I have 2 children. I am going to turn 44 on June 21st...I will be in the hospital!!! I am not getting any younger. Losing the weight will give me back nine or so more years with my babies!!! Enough said, right? Wish me luck, as I start this journey alone. If I watch one more Gastric Sleeve YouTube video, I may crack....LOL Night... Jona

Tread lightly, and google "weight loss surgery alcoholism" as there are many studies that say 1 in 5 WLS patients end up with alcohol problems. I knew this personally before I ever started the process, b/c I have a friend who had WLS 10 years ago, and then spent the next 9 years in and out of inpatient care for alcoholism. She lost custody of her children in the process as well. She is currently sober for 6 months or so, but still living in a group home. I don't know if she belongs to some kind of support group for WLS/alcoholism, but sometimes she will post something on FB about it, and will get tons of replies from other women who indicate they had the same problems with alcoholism following WLS. I confess that I stalked her FB thoroughly as I was making the decision to have WLS myself. I decided that if I was going to have WLS, I was going to abstain from alcohol for life. I was never a big drinker (maybe 10 times a year at social events, weddings, etc), so for me to make the commitment to never drink again isn't a big deal. I do understand that would be more difficult for someone who is used to relaxing with a glass of wine every night. I would never suggest that everyone who has WLS needs to abstain from alcohol for life, but would just ask everyone to be careful. If after drinking you feel the slightest bit out of control, start craving alcohol, etc, please seek help before it's too late. Sorry to ramble, but seeing what this friend has gone through is truly heartbreaking, and I thought about her a lot as I decided whether or not to have the surgery.

I’m on June 1st. I’m on day 7 of my 10 day pre op diet. I struggled a bit in the beginning but I’m doing a whole lot better now. I have never been a chocolate milk or milkshake fan but I found that I am able to tolerate the chocolate shake more than the vanilla shake which makes me want to gag. My nutritionist asked me to do the Isopure drinks for phase 1 post surgery. Have you tried those?

I am 3 weeks out from my surgery. In the first 10 days or so I had big doubts about my decision, but in the last week or so, I have been feeling MUCH better, started seeing results and have been able to eat stuff that mildly resembles food (I'm on mushies). I missed food alot and it was hard watching my fiance sit there and eat lovely big bowls of Pasta etc. I admit the pain really got to me, I was up pacing around my house at 3am crying several nights in a row wondering why I had done this to myself. And I was SO hungry. I'd never felt hunger like it before. But it passed, very quickly, I pretty much just woke up one day and felt a whole lot better. I know its hard when you are feeling like this but try to focus on the future further past the next few weeks and exactly what you wanted to achieve from having the band. It will happen, if you believe in yourself

I've been home for almost 24 hours now, and here is a quick summary of my banding experience so far: I got to the hospital at 7:30, for my 10am surgery. I was brought back to the pre-op area, and given a gown and booties to change into, and told to wait. About 9am a nurse came in to give me my surgical stockings, and start my IV. She also gave me my first shot of a blood thinner. Finally at 10:15 my surgeon came in and said they were setting up the surgery room for me, and it would just be a few minutes. 10 minutes later a man came to wheel me to surgery. I get to the operating room, and everyone there was soooo nice. The nurses were telling me that it would all be over soon, and that I would never have to worry about my weight again. The anethelogist assistants said they couldn't believe I was 40, they thought I looked 25 (all us gals know that is the best compliment ever!). Then they have me scoot to the surgery table, and they begin to strap me down. Then they unfasten my gown in the back, and put something under my head to prop it up. Finally they begin to add something to me IV to "relax me" and they put a mask on my face. The next thing I know, it is 2pm, and I am in recovery! The first thing I asked was if the surgery went well. I was told it did. Then I asked if I could go to the bathroom. They said I had to use the bedpan. Ugh! I hate trying to use a bedpan. I don't remember much else until getting wheeled to my room, where my DH was waiting for me. I was so sleepy, I think he only stayed about 30 minutes. I remember the nurse hooking up these leg massagers things that felt good for a while. Then the rest of the hospital stay, was a blur of a morphine drip, and pain medicines, and vital signs. Not very restful, but I was pretty comfortable. DH brought me home Friday, day after my surgery, at 1pm. We stopped at CVS to get my pain medicine (Loritab). Then, as the afternoon wore on at home, my pain began to worsen. I didn't know if it was gas, or the surgery, but the next 18 hours were pretty painful. The Loritab did little to relieve the pain. In addition, I still had no appetite, so was only sipping Water. This morning, I called the surgeon. He told me to double up on the Loritab, and also take Alleve or Motrin. He said i was getting IV pain relievers in the hospital, but not at home. Well, that did the trick. I am currently much more comfortable, and even sipping my first post-op Protein shake.

Hi this is one area i miscalculated so it's good you are getting input from various people. in the past i never lost weight like i have in the past 10 months. so when i went from 24/22 to 18...i went crazy buying expensive jeans, dresses etc. thinking i wouldnt lose more weight "in the near future". i was in 18 for a short time. i did the same thing in size 16 which i barely wore. i am in size 10/12 for awhile and want to end in size 10. so St mary's clothing donation received a "motherlode" this year. if i had to do it over...i would order cheaper clothes and much less. the good news is...my top hasnt changed much...so those clothes are still good. i lost most of my weight in my belly and bottom good luck

I'm also the 27th! & very ready! I didn't have to lose anything before but couldn't gain a lot. I ended up adding abt 10# over the course of my journey, but that was a 15 mo trek, and my BMI is still in the safe zone, so they aren't worried about it. Plus, with the liquid diet, I've now dropped 13#, so I'm hoping to have a nice surprisingly lower weight for my surgeon when I get there.

I had a breast reduction a little over 10 years ago....one of my better decisions! While I haven't been sleeved yet. From what I have read here, breast reduction recovery was easy. My sister had augmentation and was in much more pain than I was...probably because they cut through and stretch muscle tissue. If you can get wls, you can definitely handle a reduction! Thanks for the words I'm thinkin the same thing! When are you scheduled for sleeve surgery???

I had a breast reduction a little over 10 years ago....one of my better decisions! While I haven't been sleeved yet. From what I have read here, breast reduction recovery was easy. My sister had augmentation and was in much more pain than I was...probably because they cut through and stretch muscle tissue. If you can get wls, you can definitely handle a reduction!

You sound like your having an easy time of it! I'm jealous. But happy for you. I'm a week out and down 10 lbs.