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I know exactly what you are talking about. Everyone I have talked to that has had the bypass has resembled that description. Too bad they didn't pick the sleeve. It may have taken a little longer to lose all of the weight but I really think it is much healthier to slow it down a little more. With the sleeve our body takes everything it is suppose to from food and theirs just can't.

My surgery is November 18 in Tucson. I need a surgery buddy ♡♥♡♥

Laci: there are two directions we can walk each day....one is toward our goals and dreams....we may tire, we may falter, we may even crumple in the dust.... Our success is not measured by how many times we fall but how many times we arise and take another step toward the Light.... We can choose our path....or it will be chosen for us; we can act in our own interests....or we can remain trapped by forces that hold us prisoner; we can move ourselves by discipline or we can be imprisoned by our old habits. The energy we lose bemoaning our fate can be better used to move us yet another step in our journey. Which do you choose? Jack posted the above message to a woman who was struggling because she seems to have lost her wind. Jack is one smart mofo. Its all a personal choice, isnt it? Its all about if youre willing and able to focus and if you truly want to change who you are. I have said to my bestie ray a few times, you know dude, if I had had the gastric bypass, it would have been much quicker, and much easier. Then I remembered why I had the lapband in the first place. I didnt want easy, I wanted to OVERCOME. I needed help slaying the beast of the fatness. I have gone from eating 10000 calories a day (believe it or not) to eating 1200-1500. I have gone from eating out every single day, sometimes two or three times a day, to cooking my own food (imagine that). I have gone from sitting down all day long, and being exausted, to walking around the building I work in (circle it twice and its a mile, I try to circle it 6 times a day), plus doing a work out tape in the morning. I have gone from not giving a shit about my apperance to actually caring, to painting my nails, and doing my hair, and taking care of myself in a way that I was almost embarrassed to do when I wasnt doing anything about my weight. Look, my weight loss has been slow, and it doesnt take a genius to figure out how to eat around the band, but it takes a helluva lot of will power to stay on track. Sometimes I stumble, sometimes I falter, but my LIFE is changing. I'm proud of MYself and this is causing a huge shift in my life, in the way I carry myself, in the way I generally feel about the world. I wake up in a better mood, smile more often, I dont always 'look mad' anymore. My band is the best decision I have ever made, and its been difficult, but I would do it again a million times over. Now then, speaking of cooking, I made a sort of low carb something last night, and its really really good. Okay, so I got 3 chicken breasts, threw them on the foreman, a decent sized can of green chilie, 2 tomatos, and about a half a cup of onions. I have this new awesome little vegetable chopper, I dont have to cry when I want to use onions anymore, and it minces it up really finely. So after the chicken breast were done on the foreman, I threw the can of green chilie, some cheese, the tomatos, the onions and the chunked up chicken in a glass baking dish and put that in the oven for about an hour. That stuff is SO GOOD. HA. Angelica, master chef. -A :thumbs_up:

I heard about Lap-Band late in the year, 2006. I attended an informative seminar in Tampa, FL and became intrigued with the process. I'd had an uncle who'd had gastric bypass and he'd ended up losing weight, then gaining it all back after returning to normal eating habits. But SURGERY? to lose weight? Wasn't that taking drastic measures? Couldn't I just do better with changing my eating habits to healthy ones? Was I too weak to do what I had to do on my own? What would people say/think? And if I did do this... everyone would know that I'd taken the "easy way out" by the way I would have to eat. And surgery was forever. And what about that port thing... would it be visible? if I were intimate with someone, would they feel it and be repulsed? Not to mention all the risks surgery intales. If I did this, would I end up like my uncle and go back to my old ways, stretching out my stomach? I just couldn't resove it in my mind and heart. It was tempting.. sounded ideal (Other than the whole money aspect of it all). So I let it sit on a back burner til just a few weeks ago. It was then that I started my own research on the internet about LB and found this site. So many people's opinions and experiences were just what I needed to hear - good and bad. Then one kind-hearted individual answered all the serious and silly questions that I asked. Her openness really allowed me to come to grips with what this surgery would mean and how it could effect my life. So now I am in the process of journalling my eating habits on Fitday.com (which I heard about here) to see just what I am eating and how it breaks down. This has been seriously eyeopening. Once I have a week or so documented, I plan on working on reducing my caloric intake and eating my protien first, then veggies, then carbs. Basically I am going to start changing my eating habits now, in hopes that when I do get insurance and can afford to do this surgery, I will be setting myself up for success, not failure. I feel positive about this life change. I think I can do this. And I don't feel so bad about myself for it. :whoo: So this is where I will journal and document my journey. This is where I will voice my fears and concerns, my joys and accomplishments. And if someone else can get some info, support, or comfort from reading it, then praise be to God. Woohoo! I'm on my way to a brighter day!

Hey, its 12:54 april 24th 2006....i should be studying exams but i'm here doing my journal! I will start with what i did before getting into this, since i don't have much to say about the pre-op diet (i started 1 hour ago...its a 10 day diet consisting of yogurt and cottage cheese) So....around march i started thinking out of the blue...I need help, i've tried everything, I don't even know what clicked but all of a sudden i felt the urge to look up everything on the RNY gastric bypass. While i was researching that i found info on the Lap-band...which led me here. I was looking for forums where real people were discussing real issues. I started out just talking about it with my parents, they were ok about it but quickly warmed up to the idea. My mom did research and found someone in Toronto. This was the TCC (toronto cosmetic clinic) So i booked a consult in person for late may. I was searching the forum and found out no one really knew them and their reputation was not established, and their post-op care didn't add up. I opted for the TLBC (Toronto laparascopic band centre). Where i could do a phone consult which i booked for april 5th... Filled out the forms, did the consult, set the date....May 4th 2007. I spent countless hours on LBT researching, viewing threads, looking at before and after pics, reading horror stories about the complications. Now comes the real test...10 days, pre-op diet! I will keep you (if anyone is actually reading) posted!

Allright I have been sitting back and reading every post of here for the past month-ish and Now I think I will write about me. Im 24 I live in Vancouver Canada, I have a 4.5yr old little girl. All my life I have been overweight. I did weight watcher when I was 12 I think maybe even 11.. and until now ive tried it probly 8 times.........when I was 15 it Turned out I had a mass ovarian cycst (22lb tumor) I was huge !!!anyways long story short ...I had major surgery, had to be on bedrest for 3 months. I gained more weight again since I couldnt do anything really! finally I was ona family road trip and in a magazine I bought was a free "south beach diet" book my mom read it and said she was going to try it when we got home I agreed and no one thought I could do it... well after 8 months I lost 60 lbs... I was looking amazing! My Grad year was great I met a guy who was a bit older my first "real" bf... one year later I got pregnant, gained weight back and then some and couldnt loose it after... My relashonaship was rough we fought alot, I had some unerlying depression and anxiety and I tend to be a "emtional eater" ...well it just got worse and worse and worse after being with him for 4 years he was getting to mentally and emotionally abusive I had gaine a fair amount of weight and was misirable due to all situations around me. its been 2 years since being with my ex and lets just say things got even worse...seems to be a pattern?? Honestly I just donnt get how I let this happen to me. I kept seeing the numbers get higher and thinking oh okay ill try harder at this lbs and then id pass that mark and think okay this time! Then I too embarrased to goto Weight Watchers, my anxeity has been getting worse and worse. My weight is ruining me. I cant have as much fun with my daughter.. cause im to tired!...I cant do ALOT of things. and i am tired of it. I am not ready to say my weight yet.. but I can truthfully say it is high then most people on here... I have made the decision to do something about it... I told my parents about the lapsleeve surgery, I did a lot of research for 2 weeks while they were away on a trip, I went to the seminar with my sister who I told about this cause I was driving myself mental on if I should or shouldnt do it. ...My parents have decided to help me out with this, not because they can but becausethey know who I really am, and I am not shining the way I should be. I am going to Puget Sound Surgical Center in Edmond, WA so just over the border. Canadian insurance wont cover it of course, so $17,000 includes 2 years after care program with nutritionist, deitition. its alot of money but I think its worth my life...... I go for my pre-op this Wednesday Oct 20!!! I am SOOOOO nervous! the surgery will be soon after they are saying Mid November!....I am excited but very scared! Theres always what if I dont wake up from surgery and i leave my little girl behind without a mom... ahh tears well when I talk about it. I have tuns of family support which is great. I just hope I can change the way I think sometimes..... Well there it is! I will let you know how Wednesday goes I am doing a surgan consult, psyc asses, and nutrionist assesment...

For those who haven't been following my story............... I was diagnosed with an eroded band in November of 2011 and had it removed in March of 2012. I had to wait for six months before revising to the gastric sleeve as my surgeon wanted to wait for me to heal completely and do medical tests before confirming that I would be a good candidate for the sleeve. I have complete those tests and he was satisfied that I could have the sleeve. We also found that I had developed another hiatal hernia (the first one was repaired when I had my lap band surgery). My predetermination request for the sleeve surgery was denied. They stated that I needed to complete a six month weight loss program in order for them to consider my request. I asked my surgeon's insurance coordinator to appeal based on the reasoning that this was a repeat surgery for a lap band that had medically failed me and that I shouldn't have to complete the six month medically supervised weight loss program. She filed an appeal but no where in the letter did it address the six month weight loss program so of course they denied me again stating that we still hadn't submitted the records they had requested. Frustrated beyond belief, I took the initiative to write my own appeal letter. I used language from the BCBS-AL bariatric policy regarding repeat surgeries and their rationale for requiring the six month weight loss program and explained how I had met that rationale just by having a lap band for four years and that my waiting for six months before revising to another surgery was not conducive to improving my health. I just got off the phone with BCBS-AL and they have approved my surgery!!!!!! I am actually shocked that I succeeded in my appeal. I fully expected them to deny me and had already started the medically supervised six month weight loss program in preparation for that denial (and have lost 10 lbs over a six week period which is nice). I'm excited, relieved and nervous! I've been through this before so I don't know why but I am. I was very successful with my lap band (losing 94 lbs). I remember how wonderful it felt to be thin and feel good about myself and how I looked and not to be in pain anymore from carrying around all this extra weight (yes I packed the pounds back on after my band was removed). I can't wait to be there again! Yeah me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had my first appointment with Dr. Robinson and his Assistant on Monday, and I am shocked! This process seems like it is going to fly by! Here's how it went: I was scheduled for 2:30 but got there at 2:00, so they sat me down with paperwork to fill out. It included all the expected questions, including lists of failed diets, weights throughout your life, co-morbidities,etc. It took about ten minutes, and then they took me in early. The Physician's Assistant (to be called P.A. from the point on) took my blood pressure with a cuff that actually fits me, and it turns out my blood pressure is pretty darn good for a 300 lb. girl! 126/74. They weighed and measured me. We discussed the potential risks of banding, why I wanted the band vs. bypass, etc. It was all pretty straight forward. Then doctor Robinson came in. Dr. Robinson is a man of very few words, but I am not going to him for emotional support. I am seeking him because he seems intelligent, honest and open. He told me right off the bat that I am going to need a boob lift and lower body life after surgery. He also implied that if I mention later on down the road that my boobs sagging cause back pain, and the if I start getting rashes under my extra skin, that I will be able to get both procedures covered by insurance. He then laid me down on the table, looked at my belly, and told me to loose 20-25 lbs. beore surgery. He told me he wants to see me in four weeks for a follow up. If, at that 4 week followup, I have lost 10 lbs, then he will schedule me for surgery. I was told that we're looking at the first week of August, possibly!!!! I left with a to-do list that states which tests I have to have done, which medical records to have transferred, and how to pay the program fee. I have to get an upper GI, see the nutritionist and the psychologist, have a sleep study and have some blood drawn. All of those except for the sleep study can be done on the same day, I was told! Now I am just sitting here at home, waiting for the phone to ring with my appointment dates from his secretary. I am SO ready to go!!!!! :thumbup: Tomorrow is the lap band support group, and I am really debating going!

I had my first appointment with Dr. Robinson and his Assistant on Monday, and I am shocked! This process seems like it is going to fly by! Here's how it went: I was scheduled for 2:30 but got there at 2:00, so they sat me down with paperwork to fill out. It included all the expected questions, including lists of failed diets, weights throughout your life, co-morbidities,etc. It took about ten minutes, and then they took me in early. The Physician's Assistant (to be called P.A. from the point on) took my blood pressure with a cuff that actually fits me, and it turns out my blood pressure is pretty darn good for a 300 lb. girl! 126/74. They weighed and measured me. We discussed the potential risks of banding, why I wanted the band vs. bypass, etc. It was all pretty straight forward. Then doctor Robinson came in. Dr. Robinson is a man of very few words, but I am not going to him for emotional support. I am seeking him because he seems intelligent, honest and open. He told me right off the bat that I am going to need a boob lift and lower body life after surgery. He also implied that if I mention later on down the road that my boobs sagging cause back pain, and the if I start getting rashes under my extra skin, that I will be able to get both procedures covered by insurance. He then laid me down on the table, looked at my belly, and told me to loose 20-25 lbs. beore surgery. He told me he wants to see me in four weeks for a follow up. If, at that 4 week followup, I have lost 10 lbs, then he will schedule me for surgery. I was told that we're looking at the first week of August, possibly!!!! I left with a to-do list that states which tests I have to have done, which medical records to have transferred, and how to pay the program fee. I have to get an upper GI, see the nutritionist and the psychologist, have a sleep study and have some blood drawn. All of those except for the sleep study can be done on the same day, I was told! Now I am just sitting here at home, waiting for the phone to ring with my appointment dates from his secretary. I am SO ready to go!!!!! :crying: Tomorrow is the lap band support group, and I am really debating going!

Sleeve coming in November, I have colonoscopies every few years. Can anyone tell me how I am I going to swallow the 2 litres of fluid required for the preparation?

I Would not chance the sleeve if u have acid reflux or gerd. Many, many oeopke have to get a revision after the sleeve due to horrible reflux. Hes what my surgeon saud to me bc I also have had gerd for years. He said," about 1/3 of sleeve patients I see end up having reflux, however what Im seeing more and moreIs a much later down the line many get horrendous reflux daily and I end up doing a revision, bypass. We got talking a out this bc I have had reflux for many year. I'm not gonna go through this surgery twice, so Its bypass for me. Sent from my SM-N920P using the BariatricPal App

I'm just beginning my journey and have done some research, I have well over 150+ lbs to loose and just wanted to see if anyone has done that successfully with the sleeve, or would bypass be the better option?

I just found out I have type two diabeties today. I am scheduled to be sleeved on june 30. Now that I have diabeties should I be considering bypass instead of sleeve? I was going to go with sleeve as there appear to be less complications but I heard bypass typically cures type 2 diabeties.

Hi you guys! I am new here and this is one of my first couple posts (first time posting in this section). I currently weigh 270lbs and I am 5'5. I am 20 years old. I have been overweight my ENTIRE life. I was an active kid, I played many different sports and was always on the go, yet I was always overweight and I ate healthy also. Obesity runs in my family so I am not sure if that is a contributing factor or not. My grandmother got her stomach stapled in the 80's and my mother had gastric bypass about 6 years ago. So now, I feel like it's my turn to start living a happy healthy lifestyle and I am so very excited to get started. About a month ago I attented a weight loss seminar by Dr. Dennis Smith in Georgia. It went very well and I have my heart set on getting VSG. I filled out my MANY pages of paper work and mailed it into the surgeon this week and I checked my tracking number and his office got my paper work last Thursday. It takes them about two weeks for the surgeon to approve you for the surgery because he won't just operate on anyone. I hope I qualify by the standards of my surgeon. I just had a physical two weeks ago and my PCP said I am extremely healthy and nothing is wrong with me except for my weight so I feel that I am a good candidate for the weight loss surgery and I don't think I should get denied by my surgeon. I am just getting so stressed out dealing with this and going to college and working full time. It's getting to be too much to handle. All I have on my mind is VSG. I just want to be 100% happy again. I mean, I am really happy now. I have a boyfriend of three years and we moved in together this past summer. We've had many talks of engagement soon. So I am living a great life, I just feel trapped in the body of a fat girl and I hate it. Sorry for all the useless information. I feel better already for just saying what I had to say. Thanks for listening!

Your welcome...Valentine shows videos of the actual procedure, my husband sat there with his eyes closed while the videos were showing he can't stomach that stuff, LOL....I found it helped me to understand it further...I hope you will too. What's you name, I'm Pattie...have a identical twin Paula, who got the bypass...i am so glad I didn't get that done...she lost 200 pounds tho, but she has all kinds of health issues...not from the surgery tho. Good luck...I think you will enjoy Valentines seminar.

sablebby No my bypass wasn't out patient.I stayed 2 days.No complications.Only had to take pain meds 2 times at home.The gas pains are the most painful,but walking a lot gets rid of them.My Dr wouldn't let you go home until you drank enough liquids and Protein.That is why I stayed 2 days.My starting weight for this was 240.I have lost 22 lbs so far.

Was your bypass performed as out patient and has it been successful? Sent from my LGL82VL using the BariatricPal App

I'm booked in for bypass on 22/2/17. Can't wait Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I have decided to go from a hand written journal/food diary to one that EVERYONE can read....and relate to. I will also post new recipes as they come to me... I can be quite creative... so check back!! My name is Melissa, I'm 31. I have a 12 year old daughter who is the best kid ever!!...well..depending on the day! HAHA... I'm also engaged to an amazing man who I love with all my heart. Our wedding is on 11/10/07. I have been overweight since I was around 8 years old. I was never big on sports and I loved to eat.. bad combo. I never really went on a diet until after I had my daughter. Of course I did the Phen/Fen thing... lost about 65lbs.. and looked great! When the reports came out about the dangers of the drugs I stopped taking them and up went the weight. I've been allergic to scales for the most part of my life, I rely on my pants to tell me if I have gained or lost weight. Sometimes this is a good thing, sometimes bad. Saying that.. my lowest size was a 10, highest 20/22. I'm currently hovering around 18/20... REALLY hoping to hit the size 18 soon.. I have some really cute spring clothes from last year to wear!! My last attempt at losing weight went very well. I began working out for about 45 min a day/5 days a week. I also had a strict diet of no sugar, low fat, low cal meals.. a typical day for me would be a breakfast of fruit smoothie made with low fat yogurt, a lunch of salad with fat free dressing and cottage cheese and grilled chicken, and dinner would be some type of grilled or roasted meat (normally chicken, turkey or fish)....I'd also have a piece of fruit and maybe a hand full of pretzels to snack on.. Seeing how I was allergic to scales I do not know the exact weight loss... but I did go from a 22 to a 16. Thats when I met my fiance, got comfortable in our relationship..and out went the diet and exercising. I gained it ALL back. This time I've had it. I thought about bypass surgery, but I really did not like the idea of my insides being "cut and paste". When I heard about the lapband surgery I took my time and really researched it..and found it to be much more appealing than the bypass. I attended my first lecture at the end of Feburary and that started my journey. So, today I got my rear out of bed and went to the gym.:clap2: I did 20 min. of cardio on the treadmill and 25 min of resistance training. It felt good. When I came home I had a home made smoothie..made with fresh pineapple, orange juice and a half of a banana..I also added a half scoop of vanilla unjury protein powder... yum!! For lunch I had a small "taco salad" using about 2 tbs of ground turkey, a sprinkle of cheese, lettuce and tomato....no shell. Not bad. ...I'm off to do housework... a never ending task. 3/5 1st Consult 3/19 Cardiologist 3/20 Life skills class (1 of 3) 3/26 Cardio stress test (PASSED!) 3/27 Life skills class (2 of 3) 3/28 Program Psych and Nurse appointment 4/2 Psych clearance 4/3 Pulmonologist 4/3 Life skills class (3 of 3) 4/23 Final Dr appointment for surgical clearance 4/25 GI Endoscopy 5/14 SURGERY!!!!

You should be fine... Just make sure you follow the dosing on the back I the package and ONLY use stuff with acetaminophen. I got the flu the week I had my bypass and was still sick a week after. My doc just had me but the liquid Tylenol cold and flu... I survived. Haha

The gallbladder surgery was 20 times worse than my sleeve was. By this point in my sleeve recovery I only took pain meds maybe twice a day... This go around I take it every 6 hours.... And I honestly think it is because my body has been through so much! I am also very tired which wasn't the case with my VSG either. But I am thankful for being young and having a great support system who are all there no matter what when I need them ! An yes I am trying to keep a positive outlook on this! If The Lord meant for me to have the bypass his will will be done! But I'm going to do my darnedest to do everything I can to prevent another surgery! That way if I do have to do the bypass atleast I can say I have given it my everything!!!

Later I now have my IV back so I can have my pain meds and Reglan again. Found out this morning that I have biliary reflux. So I'm going home with lots of new meds and prayers that it will get better or they will have to do a gastric bypass. So I have to hit the low fat diet hard because I sure don't want the bypass surgery.

11/2/2007 I still continue to struggle with my weight. I am not getting that full filling like I think I should. I haven't had my first fill yet. I will be having that on November 15. I am just tired of being over weight. Not being able to look or feel comfortable shopping for clothes for myself. I looked at myself in the mirror and I can see why my husband doesn't want to have anything to do with me. My arms are just huge acutally every part of my body is. I hope soon that I won't have such a low self esteem. I am thankful that God allowed me to have the surgery. I just get really lonely and sad. But I just have to have aith in God the Father and know that He is there with me all the way.

I had this problem, too. Someone said to me that they think surgeons get paid more for gastric bypass though, so this could be the reason for the push. Just sit back and think about it, lord knows we have enough time to.

Aloha! I'm misty, and I'm a mom of 6. I chose to have the RNY gastric bypass and I am also still in the beginning stages of my journey! Happy to follow urs as well. I can't wait to hear more from u and see how ur doing. This is so exciting! People choosing to take the time to care themselves.... Just awesome! I look forward to getting to know ya!