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I was sleeved on 10/6. I have been very lucky with minimal difficulties. I went back to work 10/14 both jobs. My weight has not moved in about 2 days, but I was prepared for that. The number one thing I wished there was more on was informed of the emotions. Monday I had a minor breakdown, couldn't stop crying. No one could reason with me or nothing. I finally went to the track and walked, by myself, 1 mile then felt better. Today at my job I started crying and had to walk away.

Wow! I needed to hear that! I'm struggling today as well. I"m only 4 days in, but today was a real challeng. I had pre-op appointments this morning that had to fasting.....no Protein shake. that was at 8:45. Then they sent me to another apointment at 10am. By the time I got home it was almost 1pm. Thats 19 hours without anything!! it would be that big of a deal two weeks ago, but when you are living on 600 calories a day I was stakey and starving. I broke down and ate my lean cusine meal for lunch instead of dinner. So now I know I will be hungry at dinner .....................and a shake aint going to cut it. Lesson learned: Don't let your doctor schedule things back to back like that!! This diet is such a mind game and when someone shakes your day up, its hard to keep your head in the game. I'm being positive one bad day doesn't undo everything else. I have lost 16 pounds since December. And 6 of them have just been from Sunday. 1 more pound and I will actually see the "teens". Hang in there friends. Xavier is so right!!! This IS the last diet of my life!!!!

According to the "chart" I have 136 pounds to go. So he said realistically that's a the difference between the BP and Sleeve would be 10-15 pounds. I don't remember what it feels like to be 160 or 175. It's been over 25 years. I've been sitting at this computer for hours on end. I've got myself so worked up I can't sleep. I'm starting to think my fear issues with regard to dumping is the fact that I'm a food addict and I have so much self doubt which is a bad combination. My "fat" brain says there is no way you can live without at least a bite of cheesecake now and then, or butter on something. So is my desire to have the sleeve really my mind figure out a way to cheat? I am also a little worried about something my mother said in an email recently: "A doc I worked with had done the psychological for a friend who then never took the Vitamins and she has a permanent dementia from not doing that. I have jokingly said that if I am in the nursing home everyone has to make sure I am given my vitamins and supplements." The Vitamin thing scars me. I now my mom manages it well now, 8 years post-op.

I am. My surgery date was 10/27

I am kind of distressed over how much I've gained so far in my pregnancy, and also still having about 10 weeks to go. My goal was to gain 15lbs TOTAL and for my past two check ups (still going once a month) I have gained 15lbs EACH time! So I am up to 30lbs gained at 29 weeks. I am so afraid to put any more weight on. I lost 75lbs before I got pregnant and watching the scale go back up is really upsetting. I understand I have to gain for the baby etc...but I never intended to gain twice as much as I *should* have gained. So what did you guys gain during your pregnancy? Did you find it easier or harder to get it off (or, the bigger question, HAVE you been able to get it off?) Thanks!

Mine is 10 days but only 4 of all liquid. The first six are high protein and low carbs. I never realized how much I LOVE carbs.

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Just seen my typo. Sorry! My plan wants me to eat 5 to 6 meals a day. Less than 10 fats, less than 10 sugars, more than 10 proteins. Following that I'll get more than the 60 protein a day which is recommended. Hope this helps :-)

How much you lose is up to you. Typically they say about 60% of excess weight but it can be more or less depending on your ability and desire to exercise and eat right. But the battle isn't with your stomach- it's with your mind. We have an addiction and you have to treat it as such. And getting active will help. I took up swimming because I have bad knees and it's been great. For a few weeks to a few months eating will be much different than you're used too. Full very fast. EAT SLOWLY. If you overeat I guarantee you will only want to do it once. Follow the plan your doctor gives you and don't deviate. They have a reason they do what they do. You will gradually be able to eat more but never like you used to. I just had my first ice cream in 4 years. 1 scoop filled me up. And no real desire to have more. The quantity you'll be able to eat will vary depending on what you're eating and how fast. But don't push it. I've had to find other things to replace my eating. I can still eat most things just in much smaller quantities. I don't do rice or much pasta or potatoes as they fill me up very fast and no room for the healthier- and tastier- things. I felt great after surgery. Told the doctor I've had worse paper cuts. No pain, no gas, no upset stomach. But I'm one of the lucky ones. Expect some problems like gas and just have a heat pad ready - it helps. There can be complications- that's true with any surgery but, again, follow instructions for hygiene and type of food. Excess skin? Oh yeah! I've lost about 250 pounds and I look like a partially deflated balloon. But I'm working at losing some more to have skin removal. Need a BMI of around 35 before that happens. How long again is a matter of how much and how fast you lose. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat! I wish I had done it 10 years before I did. But fear kept me from trying. I heard a quote bt Will Smith. " God puts the best things in life on the other side of fear." How true! Finally I would recommend a book called Weight Loss Surgery For Dummies. Very informative. Good luck

Congratulations!!! What a great accomplishment! I love grandma's chicken and cheesy rice by Stouffers. It comes in a big size, and is about 4 meals. About 18-19 g protein for 1 cup.

You bring up some good questions. I haven't heard about the 1 cup rule. The rule my nutritionist has is 10-15 minutes from when you start to eat and when you finish and put your fork down between bites and wait 30 seconds before you pick your fork back up. As for liquids, 30 -60 minutes after eating. Try to do 20 ozs between breakfast and lunch and 20 ozs between lunch and dinner and 20 0zs after dinner (but not too close to bed time. I'm struggling with the 60 ozs myself. But after talking to the nutritionist, I have made sure I get 40 ozs in by dinner and then whatever I drink after dinner is what I do and not worry so much about it.

I know exactly what pain you are talking about. Although I have not had it with my sleeve (3/23/10), I did have it with both c-sections and hysterectomy. It hurts badly, but will subside as your body heals. Mine took a while because they were large incisions, hopefully yours will not last as long. I am only 4 days post op, but feel good. I hope you have a great recovery !!

I ate lean cuisines for 10 years at lunch and kept gaining. Dinner was vegetables. Nevermore. No more pasta/rice/noodles. I am dead serious about this surgery and my results.

I was banded on 7-10-08. In the first two weeks, I also experienced some back pain. I didn't even say anything to my doctor cause I thought it was normal. Now I'm in my third week post-op and I haven't had any pain for a couple days. If you are that uncomfortable and can't sleep, that definitley sounds like a red flag to me. :confused2: I would get checked out. Good luck to ya and hope your feeling better soon!

Hi All. I was banded on March 10, 2011. Have been doing ok lost 23lbs have 5.5cc in a 10cc band. However today I fell off the wagon. I went our for breakfast and ate a half of an egg sandwich with bacon and cheese. Then my daughters invited me out to a movie. After we went for Mexican food and I ate a chicken enchilata and had desert. On the ride home I had left shoulder pain and extreme gas. Felt depressed and guilty for worring my girls. All your words helped me realize that we all slip up and just have to move on. This is for life. I need to learn that only one cup means one cup everywhere. Hope I did not screw up my band. The port seems swollen.

I am two week post op and can finally start my mushy diet. I need some good mushy food ideas. Last week I saw that someone had Fat Free refried Beans, a sprinkle of low fat cheese and dollop of fat free sour cream. I had about 10 bites of that last night and it was divine!! So I'd love any other creative ideas.

Same here!!! Over two weeks!!! Started a week afte surgery!! Lost 10 pounds since surgery and thats it...Im majorly discouraged!!! Ive had stalls with lap band but not right out of the gate!

You will do great. 10 months out today with my surgery from Dr Alvarez. I'm down 156 pounds and still losing. I can't thank him enough.

This is an abstract and only reflects a small sample set. It does not go into the causation of the failures such as non compliance with food, follow up appt., taking medications that can cause issues. Without having the full study and understanding the study criteria, rigorous of the analysis, etc this abstract is not scientifically interesting. I read a lot of success stories from people who have the band and are successful. I choose to focus on encouraging everyone to reach their goals. Had lapband surgery 10/12/16 Well, by all means... discount research as 'not scientifically interesting', whatever that means, and focus on anecdotal evidence! What a GREAT way to make life-altering decisions! @@dvons Thanks for trying, but academic rigor around here falls short quite often. I enjoyed the abstract and poking around in PubMed for a little while I noticed. I didn't get the "not scientifically interesting" part either, and I really don't get the abstract comment. If they want to see the methods, it's right there. If they want fine details, they could get a subscription. Don't matter, I suppose, as long as others get it. Good to do research on your surgery and not just go by opinions before one goes under the knife. Some sound just like the lap band ads in 2005. smh

Surgical techniques have significantly improved to help reduce slippage. My surgeon is the chairperson of a bariatric center of excellence and holds an officer position on a national bariatric association. I trust his confidence in the band and the surgery techniques he performed. That does not mean there is a guarantee that I won't someday have an issue, but the possibility of issues exists with all WLS. I'm losing 10 pounds a month and feel great. I don't have any regrets about my decision. Lap-banded and love it!

I had total buyer's remorse on days 2-5 post op. I felt lousy from the anesthesia the first three days and when I got home from the hospital, I was overwhelmed by having to keep to sipping schedule. I just couldn't wrap my head around what I had done to myself at that point. I also had major head hunger for the first week. But, by the end of the week things began to get better each day. I feel amazing at 10 weeks post op. I'm thrilled with my weight loss and I'm thrilled with my sleeve. It is a magnificent tool for weight loss. At this point, I only regret not having done it sooner. Good luck to you!

My dermatologist told me that whey Protein frequently exacerbates acne in those who are prone to it, and can even cause breakouts in people who've previously had clear skin. Dairy products can also worsen hormonal acne in some people, so using milk as your base can compound the risk of a breakout. Fortunately, for me I can use milk, kefir, and yogurt in shakes without fearing an eruption on my face, but it's definitely something to be mindful about. This helps to explain some of the reasons for why whey protein can lead to acne: http://www.acneeinstein.com/whey-protein-acne/ I've had better luck with plant-based Protein Shakes rather than whey. I also loved GENEPRO. It's a Protein powder that has been heavily criticized on this forum for it's "too good to be true" claims about having 30 grams of protein for a small serving of easily dissolvable, tasteless and odorless powder, and for being so processed, but it's been fantastic for me. I used it for four months without experiencing any ill effects. I only stopped using it because I was getting adequate protein from food sources once I was fully healed. My husband is a physician, and a friend of his who is an oncologist told him that some of his patients going through chemotherapy have sores in their mouth that make eating difficult, so they have used Genepro as a supplement to add in more protein to their diet. He approves of it, which made me feel a bit more confident. It's definitely not an ideal food source, or something to make as a staple for your diet, but it can be useful as a supplement when your options are more limited. It can be added to broths, hot and cold drinks, and various foods. If you look on YouTube you can find videos by a bariatric surgeon named Dr. Matthew Weiner who advocates what he calls a "set point smoothie." It's made of high-protein, low-carb Greek yogurt (such as Fage), frozen fruit, and kale or spinach. It's a bit too much for immediately post-surgery, but a week or two down the road you should be ready for it. He encourages his patients to only consume protein powders in the first few months post-surgery when they cannot yet eat better, more natural sources of protein. Vitamins and supplements can also cause breakouts. I took Biotin a couple of years ago when I was regretting a hair cut and hoping for more rapid growth, and ended up with a war zone on my face because of it. I have PCOS and am very sensitive. Excessive B-12 also lead to painful breakouts. I do not take an additional B-12 supplement because of that, but do take a Multivitamin that has it in a smaller quantity. The vitamins I've responded to the best are Garden of Life's Vitamin Code Multi-Vitamin for Women, and Flintstones with Iron (one or the other, not both). As for topical treatments, my esthetician I see for monthly facials (and can recommend to you if you happen to live in LA) as well as my dermatologist recommended La Roche Posay's products, and specifically their Effaclar System. It's usually $29 for the set, which includes a face wash, clarifying solution, and treatment, but I spotted it at CVS earlier this week for $19. If you buy it, start off slowly because it can lead to peeling if you use it too often. I wash my face with the cleanser at night, and use the solution a couple of times a week. I put a very thin layer of the treatment on spots when needed. In the morning I either use Lush's Let the Good Times Roll, or simply rose Water. This routine has definitely helped my skin. My dermatologist told me to stay away from any anti-aging products because they are way too heavy for my skin. I turned 30 last year and freaked out about it, and went overboard on products. He said that water is my best anti-aging "product." It's true that any wrinkles I have go away once I've gotten properly hydrated. If you're older, that might not be the case, but regardless of age water can help to improve your skin's clarity and tone. You might also want to be careful about any laundry detergents, shampoos, conditioners, and toothpaste you use because fragrances and ingredients like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate can trigger acne in some people. I use Seventh Generation's fragrance-free detergent for sensitive skin, and no fabric softener (white vinegar works just as well, and doesn't cause your clothes to smell like you might think it would), and I change my pillowcases three times a week. I stick with SLS-free toothpaste that doesn't have whitening ingredients (Tom's has one), and SLS-free shampoo and conditioner (Loreal has a good line). Best wishes to you!

I am 15 weeks pregnant and have gained 3 pounds. My OBGYN said he only wants me to gain between 5 - 10 pounds for the whole pregnancy. After gaining 55 during my first pregnancy almost 4 years ago, I thought 5 - 10 sounded unreal! I still have 1.2 ccs in my 10 cc band, but have not had it unfilled yet. I am doing fine. My lapband dr. said to come get it unfilled whenever I needed it, probably before the 3rd trimester.

Hi all I am so glad that I found this thread. I am 5 months pregnant and have not gained a pound. I actually go upa nd down two pounds depending on how much Water I drink, retain and swell. I had my surgery last July and was doing great. Then in Decemeber I had to have emergency knee surgery so I had to do a complete unfill because if they have to put a chest tube in they can't with the band. Well after that they don't just fill you right up it is gradual like in the begining. So after finally 8 weeks of fills to be at my perfect restricion I found out that I was pregnant. It was a total shock as we were not trying, but a very pleaseant surprise. I did fine for the first couple weeks but then the morning sickness really took over and between that and the tightness of my band I was keeping absolutley nothing down. Even water came back up at times so they had me get a complete unfill untill seeing both my lapband dr and obgyn. So my lapband doctor will only let me get a fill of half of my restriction which was 6.8 in a 10 cc band so I am allowed 3.4. I got my first fill and have no restriction and I go for my second fill next week, but that is all they will allow me to get. If I have any problems I am supposed to get it unfilled and then one month before I am due they say I have to get it completely drained in case for any reason I have to be put under or need a chest tube. Then I will have to start all over again. This is our first pregnancy so I am doing everything I am told. I am a little freaked out by everything, but trying to stay calm. Has anyone else expereinced little pains around their port site since becoming pregnant? Nothing major just twinges every now and then? My guess is it is just because everything is moving and just adjusting in there cusing pressure the port. What do you think?

@@CowgirlJane - your post resonated with me. I had lost more than 80lbs seven times in the past 20 years. Each time I did it I was pushing through the constant 24/7 hunger. Every meal was maximum quantity for minimum calories. I would eat huge bowls of Soup made with only the very lowest calorie vegetables, stuff myself with substitutes like konjac noodles. I always felt like I was holding an elastic band at maximum stretch trying to hang on. It was an impossible task and eventually there would be a situation or event that would prevent me sticking to the regime and I would break. Each time I put the weight back in at a rate of around 5lbs a week. This surgery has allowed me to lose weight eating actual food, food which has fat and Protein and actually tastes good. I am 4.5 months out and 93lbs down. I don't feel that 'just hanging on' feeling at all that previously would kick in after around 10 weeks. So far, this time around, I am feeling very positive about the possibility of long term success.