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I know how you feel. Basically the same thing has happened to me. I had surgery July 15, and I have lost 20 lbs. I lost all 20 within two weeks of surgery. None since. And I have been trying very hard. I don't eat between meals at all, and I try to eat healthy meals. It is just that I have no restriction and can eat as much as I could before. I have never felt one bit of restriction. This is probably the hardest I have worked at dieting in 10 or 15 years. Discouraging to say the least. Just wanted you to know you're not alone.

Good Luck Jennifer. We will be thinking of you and your family. You will do great...Please don't feel left out..we may be expereince the same thing but we all have the same struggle. Our weight!!! So please don't leave us...you will just be skinny before the rest of is. :mad: So you will be able to tell us how Thin feels. haha.. Good Luck if you can have your hubby call someone to let us know you did ok. Don't forget I am 10 mins away from you if you need anything!!! If you family needs dinner I can bring it to them.

I was banded 12/19/05 and everything went well with recovery. I had my first fill 1/24/06 which started with 2cc and had to have .5 cc removed twice that day. Here is my problem I am unable to eat in the AM so I drink the Atkins Protein shake. I can usually get solid foods down in mid afternoon and "usually" have no problem eating ANYTHING in the evening which is bad for me because I am eating everything I get my hands on because of not being able to eat most of the day...and then going to bed on all that junky food is horrible. I'm not loosing either but am really not eating that much...just junk too late. If I try to eat in the AM I have severe PAIN like I can't breath after 1 bit of eggs...I also get that feeling in the pm if I eat protein like hamburger or dryer chicken. Is pain like that normal? My doc says I need to chew better but I AM chewing that bite of eggs and still get sick to the point of sliming like I have read people mentioning after just 1 bite. I'm really upset because I feel that I am not eating as healthy as I did b4 the surgery and the pain I feel scares me that something might be wrong....ANY comments are GREATLY appreciated!!!!!!!

I have given up the beer and at just over 10 weeks out and with 2 fills, the band is really doing it. I only notice that it is there when I break the rules (don't chew well enough especially). Greatest thing I ever did and I am not even half way yet!

I have two horses, a quarter horse gelding, 10 yo and a 8 yo warm blood mare. I had a percheron mare that was my riding horse. I had my surgery September 2011, I had the surgery so I could ride again. I lost my percheron three Weeks after surgery to a clostridium infection. My heart is still broken. I have Lost 118 lbs and just starting to realize all the stuff I can do again! Including riding my little quarter horse. He is only 14.2, but built like a Mac truck. I haven't really ridden regularly in 20 years, working my way up to riding my mare!

In April 2012, I was driving to work one sunny morning when my life changed. A 19 year old drunk driver drove into my lane and hit me head-on. I know just how lucky I am not only to be alive, but not to have been injured any worse than I was. I had 3 broken bones and spent 4 weeks in a wheelchair, 2 with a walker and cane, and weeks in physical therapy, but I'm still here! The problem was even after physical therapy, my joints hurt. I thought I just needed to work-out and lose weight. Uh, yeah, I was about 316 pounds, so that should have been enough of a clue! However, working out wasn't as easy as I thought it would be, because I was in pain during and after. I realized that I needed to take off the weight in order to make the exercise work for me. I had considered weight loss surgery before and had even gone to an informational meeting, but didn't follow through. It seemed too extreme! What I needed at this time was the extreme. I had surgery Dec. 19,2012 by Dr. Teresa LaMasters. It was easily the BEST decision I've made to improve my health! I didn't have any problems. My insurance approved the procedure literally in less than 24 hours! I was fortunate that because of the car accident, my deductible was met and I didn't have to pay very much out of pocket for the procedure either. Nothing made me sick after surgery. My tastes changed some in that Protein drinks that I liked before surgery tasted like drinking syrup after and I found that the only one I really like is chocolate unjury. I also discovered Quest Protein Bars and love them! For about the first year, everything was easy. I got down to 209 pounds and stalled some. Some of the stall was due to the fact that I discovered I could eat anything and maintain for the most part as long as I worked out and didn't over do. So I'd gain and lose the same 5 pounds! (This is the point I should have been smacking myself in the head! lol) Things were going so smoothly for me, that my husband decided to have the surgery as well. He's 6'4 and was over 400 pounds. His surgery was June 2014. He's down 125 pounds so far. Now we're to the part of my story that got me here. In October, my sister started to not feel good and went to the hospital. She came home and they thought she had a virus. Two weeks later, she was worse and they admitted her. Three days later, no one had answers and she was transferred to a bigger hospital. In the meantime, I'm working on an important report for the federal government that will help me gain "points" towards re-funding the grant for my program. I was also informed at this time that my employer didn't want to spend the money on a grant writer and that it was now "my job" to write the grant that funds my job and 3 others over the next 5 years. Oh, and did I mention I was supposed to do this in my spare time for no money? We're approaching Thanksgiving and my sister is still in the hospital without a diagnosis, but with dozens of tests run. The week of Thanksgiving, we hear she's going to get to come home! Yea! The next day, they decided they needed to put a stent in and that she can't leave yet. Two days later, they decided she had polycythemia vera. She never got to come home. She passed away on December 1. 12 days before her son's 22 birthday...22 days before her 25th wedding anniversary...during her daughter's first semester of college. It's just so surreal to have my best friend and sister be gone. Our family is fractured. Two days before the funeral, my husband had surgery on an elbow he'd injured. The thought of him with anesthesia terrified me. Then two weeks later, I had surgery. We made it through Christmas and needless to say, food was a comfort through all of this. On Dec. 26, I went for my yearly mammogram and got a call two days later that it was abnormal and I had to have another. From there, I went to a breast cancer specialst and was informed that I had to have a biopsy. (I'm thinking to myself, are you FREAKING kidding me!! Yes, I was feeling pretty sorry for myself!) Good news, NO CANCER! Whew! In the middle of all of this, I finished that stupid grant that turned into a nightmare and things were starting to look up! Then, honest to God, I should be in a country song...I came home last week to find one of our furry, four-legged children dead. ARGH!!!! I've decided that if I've survived all of this, then I can DO ANYTHING!! Yes, I've gained 14 pounds since my lowest weight. However, I'm determined that this will not beat me!! I am so encouraged my the stories I've read here and am anxious to try some of the suggestions people have made. Thanks for giving me some inspiration!

Hi, sleeves 2/11 lost 10 pounds in the first week. Seriously upset though bc the scale hasn't budged in a week. I do have a hard time getting in enough fluids and protein but I am walking 30 min every day on top of my normal housework. I have zero heartburn or difficulty getting my soft foods in. But for example yesterday was an egg w cheese a babybel cheese and a half a piece of cod but I was so full I couldn't look at anything else. Is my body that stubborn it won't kick the weight off? Aside from not being hungry I'm wondering why I did this! I just feel alone bc all my husband can say is "I don't know you're beautiful anyway" ... While I adore is answer I just wonder if I'm alone out there ... Sorry for the rant just very frustrated this morning

Hello. I was sleeved 2/10. I lost 12 lbs at first but now I am not loosing any. On week 3. Eating purée and can't get enough protein.

When I started my journey my insurance company Aetna approved me to have the duodenal surgery. Got my letter in the mail I called my surgeon's office and scheduled an August 25th surgery date yesterday on August 19th I went back in to see the surgeon for the last time before surgery and he says well I think we should leave you sleeved my mouth dropped. I know guys this is great news it really is but I've spent the last three months researching the duodenal switch. So my surgeon says well take the weekend and think about it I'm like okay so now I will spend the next 48 hours researching this leave so that I can call the surgeon on Monday so that they can call my insurance company and now get me approved for the sleeve. So just a quick recap when I started my journey I was 240 pounds I stand 5 foot 3 I had a BMI of 35 and yes Aetna did approve me for the duodenal switch yesterday I weighed in at 2:19 and I'm also diabetic insulin dependent for 25 years and 45 years old so I guess ultimately I did a pretty good job what do you think 8/25/2016 My new birtdate

Eating is very important. I've heard great things about Smooth Moves tea for constipation, also I've had good results with Benefiber and sugar free fiber gummies. All bodies are different, sometimes diabetes is completely resolved after surgery, sometimes not, sometimes only after a certain amount of weight has been lost. My friend was insulin dependent for 10 years before surgery and was completely off it and any other meds within 6 months of surgery. Try to get your walking in, it will help prevent muscle atrophy (you need your muscles to process glucose properly) and help move things along in the downstairs as well. Have faith, follow the path, and trust that a healthier you is going to be the result. Getting on meds now does not mean you'll be on them forever, and ending up on less meds in a healthier body is not a bad option for a result.

Hi all, I appreciate reading everything everyone has posted! I am currently 25 years old with 2 semesters left of nursing school. I have struggled with my weight all of my life and both my parents had gastric bypass surgery. I decided that after I graduate in April I want to have the surgery in the beginning of May. I figured I am starting a new chapter with finishing school and want to experience actually living life without being a prisoner in my own body. How long do most people request off work? I currently work as an aide lifting and moving patients as well as work on farms doing horse chores and cleaning stalls and shoveling horse turds. Trying to get an estimate on the time off, I will need.

I'm starting day 5 of a 14 day liquid diet. I tried drinking a shake with my night time meds and it didn't work out. I got so sick. I'm supposed to have food with it. The next night I drank the shake and about 30 minutes ate a small banana and it went well. I figured that was better than just picking something up to eat. Surgery date 10/25. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hey Losing me... my 19 km went really well. I took me 1 hour and 55 minutes. I took 3 short breaks to walk (1 was actually to pee!!!). On these long runs I take Water and a snack. I was tired after but not spent. My pace... yep I clock that... was 6:02 a km. So thanks for asking. How long is your turkey trot? You should be so proud of yourself!! Dawn Banded April 4th, 2006 Montreal 358-158-148

Every person is different. How the band fits your stomach is different than how it fits mine. so generally, the Dr's will start off slow and build up. A fill can cause swelling, which can happen after you leave the Dr's office, so even if you can drink at the office and Water goes down, the band could tighten after you get home. I've had seven fills and have a 10 cc band. First fill 2 cc's, next five 1 cc and this last fill .25 cc's becasue I felt I am close to good restriction. I don;t pay per fill. I was self pay. $17800 and fills for first year are included.

Hello my name is D and I have been wanting to get bariatric surgery for over 10 years. I did not get GB because I desperately wanted children and when lap-band became an accepted technique I never had the insurance that would cover it. For the last 2 years I have been doing what I can to save up to be self pay and on Memorial Day my parents agreed to go ahead and fund me because the timing seems to be perfect for where I am in my life. So I have chosen the surgery center and as of this moment I am open to whichever doctor is available to do it the earliest. The reason I am so flexible is that 2 people I trust have told me that they would trust any of the 4 to do their surgery if they had to chose all over again. I have my first appointment with dietician and preliminary labs tomorrow at 11:15 so I am really excited!!! My goal is to have the surgery as close to the 4th of July as possible because that will have a lot of meaning for me...independance day, 2 years since my husband and I split and being able to finally get what I have wanted since my mid 20's. Will keep you up to date with progress reports and such!

I know it is very hard. I try to stay focused. Especially don't want to give in with all the hard work that everyone puts into losing. Banded Sept. 10, 2008

Hey you guys. Got a question. I have only had 2 small fills in the last 10 months. I have since gained about 7 lbs.:wub: I was told by a fellow bandster that I would not be able to get a fill since I have gained a couple of pounds. Has this happened to anyone else and was you denied a fill because of this? Dont want to go through the bother of taking off work for a day only to find out that I wont be able to get a fill.

Call the insurance company & ask them for the exact specifications they require for the surgery. I am awaiting approval from my insurance company today. With mine, I had to be 100 lbs over ideal weight which they told me they went by the "Metropolitian Life Weight Chart". I gained about 10 lbs. in the last 2 months, so I would qualify with my insurance company. Good luck!:thumbup:

Green zone for me is not waking up hungry. First meal of the day for me is anywhere between 10 am and 11 am, I don't feel hungry for five to six hours, 2nd meal is my dinner, my night time snacking urge has completely disappeared and the scales are going down each day. I am satisfied between 1/2 cup to one cup of food per meal. Because of this I am really strict on making good healthy choices for my meals so I get my protein in first and either salad or vegetables second. Two litres of water per day. My restriction level is comfortable, I can pretty much eat everything provided I take small enough bites. My restriction is at a good level also to accommodate the varying fluctuations the band is finicky for eg ttom, stress etc because when I get stressed my little friend decides to get a bit tighter on me. The biggest thing I've noticed I'm no longer obsessed with food every minute of the day, only when it's meal times. Another thing I've noticed is if I don't go to the grocery store with a shopping list then I would come out empty handed as nothing in the supermarket or food courts no longer have me drooling over everything. I'm finally in control of food and not the other way around like it was pre banding. Fingers crossed I stay this way for a while before needing a top up.

Hey everyone! I know it's been FOREVER since anyone has seen a post from me, but here's how my life has been since my surgery on 9/27/10: - I currently weigh 199. That's 134 lbs lost -I got engaged on 10/27/11 -I went from a size 26/28 to a 14 -I'm moving to Seattle with my fiance next week -In November, I was at work and had what I thought was a heart attack. After a trip to the ER, I found out I had gallstones. So yesterday I had my gallbladder removed and I'm hanging out at home trying to recover, while at the same time having to pack to move next Tuesday ANNNND go to Orlando this weekend to meet with wedding vendors. That's how my life has been since surgery in a nutshell :biggrin5:

Not sure where you live, but you can find several doctors in the US that charge 10-11K. I chose to go to Mexico too. I've heard great things about Dr. Garcia on the forum, and I'm sure you'll be very happy.

Thanks, Lander. It is really different if you have chronic pain. I am afraid that they won't effectively treat my pain. I'm a nurse, and sadly I know how (most) nurses feel about pain meds. Especially how they feel about chronic pain patients. We are all "addicts" or "hypochondriacs". Hopefully I will have a PCA so I won't have to rely on asking the nurses for meds. I have been in the hospital before for something minor, and getting my meds was like pulling teeth. They kept trying to give me tylenol for 6-7/10 pain. I was BEGGING them for something stronger, and mostly I was ignored...you better believe the state nurses board got a call from me (and the hospital administrator)! I'm just afraid I'm not going to be in any condition to advocate for myself.

Great job! You look amazing! I didn't realize you were a preacher. my husband and I were in the youth ministry for about 10 years!

I get there on 10/23 for surgery 10/24 - Dr. Diaz