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Me and you are in the same boat; I too am 19 and getting sleeved in May. I don't have any weight-related health problems such as back pain but I can see myself having some later on, plus I have a bad family history of medical problems, so I'm hoping this surgery will spare me from most of that

I am 19 years old, I have been overweight all my life, and have tried time and time again to lose weight. I am having surgery in May and it is a life changing experience, but think about what will happen if you don't. All of the health problems as we get older, I am 19 years old and I have back and knee pain daily! I'm not trying to push my decision on you, just giving you my side. Good luck in your decision, message me if you want to talk

Think of it this way, we'll be avoiding future health problems that would come along with waiting! or, would you rather lose excess weight you've been carrying for 5 years or 10 years? Surely most people would pick 5 years because that means there is less damage to your body right?

Dear Amber, my BMI was "only" over 34 when I got sleeved, but I wish I had it done 10 years ago (I am 30 now). I would have saved myself a lot of health troubles. And I would have been happier. It does change your life, but before the sleeve I lived for food, right now I have so many other interestests! Like my skinny friends I eat and drink just a little bit and have more time for other stuff. I really wish I had it done before...

I have been just browsing around this site reading people stories for about a week or so, I figured it's about time I introduced myself. Hello all, My name is Lily and I am a 19 almost 20 year old college student. I go to FAU in Boca Raton, Fl, and my surgeon is Dr. Domkowski from Sebastian River Medical Center. I am so happy too hear all of you have had so much success. My surgery date is September 20th and I am so excited to get my new life started. I am young, in college, and ready to get my self-esteem back. As many say, these are supposed to be the best years of my life. I am 5'8, 266lbs. My goal weight is 140ish. If any of you are around my age, height, and weight I would love to hear your stories. Also, I would love to hear tips for success from all you who are already sleeved. Hope everyone is having a wonderful day!

I called in November to make my surgery appointment for February 13th. Before I got to the pre op diet, I gained 10 pounds. I KNEW certain foods would haunt me if I didn't have it ONE more time. Krispy Kreme, a Mc D's double cheese (a few of those over that time), fried chicken, biscuits and gravy, Rio Grande Mud Pie from Flying Star (here in ABQ.) to name a few. I only have ONE thing haunting me. I saw a multi layered red velvet cake just OOOOZING with cream cheese frosting (one of my FAVORITES) sitting in the case at Flying Star, and I was going to go back and get some and never did. I still see it sitting there looking oozy and delicious. I think I made myself sick a couple of times during this sorta manic phase I went through. It was not the best thing I could have done, but i don't completely regret it because it made me see the need for change even more so. I don't even think about those foods anymore, really. (just that red velvet! Even that is not a big deal though) Talk about your food funerals. SHEESH. I really outdid myself!! I can't say "NO, DON'T do it!" Because you have to do what you have to do to make yourself ok with this. I lost 15 lbs on the pre op liquids, but only 5 was "new" loss. Oh well. I'm on the downhill now, and life is new again!

I have had diarrhea gas and bloating for over a week now Dr. said I could stop the actigal as diarrhea is a side effect, but no change after 5 days Possible causes seem to be... A bug like e coli or salmonella ... but 10 days? I am eating something I cant tolerate .... not sure what I am eating badly ... not chewing enough? But that would come and go Read news article this week that said the sleeve helps produce a positive change in the gut biome... so maybe this is just a phase? Any advice.... besides immodium and hydration

I live in southern Idaho so all my testing was done through my PCP here, I am not sure how you do it if you live in Tacoma. There are a lot to tests but it is a breeze. In fact when I had my UGI they found a hiatal hernia that was fixed at the same time I was banded. I am not sure what you mean by practice diet before surgery but there is a clear liquid diet for 10 days prior to surgery. I was self pay so I did not have to deal with insurance at all. I went to the seminar in March and was banded at the end of May. But I had done a lot of research for about 2 years before I decided to have it done. Keep me up to date on how things are going for you. When are you going to the seminar?

Can you switch from Effexor to a different anti-depressant? I was on Effexor for awhile and hated it! I gained weight and suffered from such serious constipation that I usually felt like I was giving birth whenever I was finally able to deliver. And oh, the pain! Now, I am one of those people who never, ever gets constipated, not even when I am on major pain meds. And my normally good blood pressure shot up. I had to take meds for that. I suffer from major depression. I am now on a cocktail of meds and am doing well without the horrid side effects of Effexor. These are as follows: Wellbutrin, Selexa, Topomax. My blood pressure is now fine again, I am no longer taking meds for this, and I can poop regularly and without pain. And even though my band has been defilled since last August I am still wearing size 10 jeans. Sorry about all the poop info but it came to be a real obsession of mine while I was on Effexor.

Thanks - I am going to go drink some Citracel - maybe that will help. did have some severe stomach gas pains tonight that I haven't had before today so that may be part of the problem. I think I thought I would be way further along on my weight loss and I look like I have gained 10 lbs not lost. I am eating liquids and mushy foods and nothing bad - living on Cream of Wheat so it doesn't make sense that I wouldn't have lost something by now but I guess I have so much fluid retention due to the surgery. It is very depressing.

Congrats ! That is the way to go size 10. Keep up the Great Work. :woot:

Josiebies-- Thanks for replying. Interesting. My band MD said they would take out some fill but maybe the PS will decide differently. So in your case, you may have gotten a weight loss boast both from the removal of tissue and less food intake for 10 days. Are there others who will let me know there experience of this?

Hi-- I was also banded on 10/07 and these first five days have been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster! Last night I was in tears, I think just because of a combination of discomfort, hunger, and emotions-varying from excitement, fear, shame... and I don't know what else...... However, this morning I feel better physically, and the scale shows 10 lbs lost since surgery, so I feel renewed. Anxious to make friends to share this journey with--- and equally anxious to have some cream of wheat or applesauce or scrambled eggs! LOL Going to go look for how to add a ticker!

Hey! Just saw this post! Just wanted to say hi I don't live in Korea but I'm engaged to a Korean. Last time I was in Korea, not only did I get stared at for being white and being a white girl dating a Korean, but I obviously got stared at for being roughly the size of 10 Korean women put together. I love my future in-laws, but my fiancee's mother is constantly asking if we've lost weight (she's taking us to Hawaii in December and I'm praying she sees a difference...the last I saw her was in May and I probably dropped 20 pounds since then, and am hoping to let go of 20 more before the end of December). I was telling AlienBandit, we met my fiance's aunt for lunch and she gave me a gift certificate to Shinsegae, but when she handed it to me, I could see in her eyes that she was thinking "Here you go. I don't know what the hell you can buy there". It was a fun trip, but depressing at the same time. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing my fiancees family at our wedding and wowing them with my skinniness lol. I know it won't be skinny by Korean standards (I'll never be a size 1 or 2) but it will be healthy! Anyhow, welcome to LBT! this is a great resource! I hope you're starting to feel better from your surgery! Walking around really helped me - I tried to walk as much as possible. Kept my muscles from getting tight and helped some of the gas and other pains. I'm following your blog - can't wait to see your progress!

Is any one out there so filled that they can only eat 2-5 bites of something before it gets so painful in your esophagus that you can't stand it? Then I end up throwing it back up. This has been happening almost daily for about a month now. I have lost about 15-19 lbs., but have great difficulty in not trying to go back after vomitting to try to get some food down. I am going to try to go back to Protein shakes, bars, and some softer foods to try to heal my esophagus. Any one else having that trouble? The only way that I can get any food down is to drink hot tea with my meals and even then sometimes it won't work. Hi Vera. Barb

I'm only 18 months post-op, but a woman in my real time support group was banded 6 years ago (FDA trials) and lost 210 pounds. She recently had a slip repair and got a new (VG) band. Now she is working her way up to the "sweet spot" again. She only gained 15 pounds during the time (6 months, I think) that she was unfilled. She still maintains that she will go to the grave with her band intact, as long as it's humanly possible. I have lost 97 pounds and am within 10 pounds of my goal weight. I weigh less than 130 and wear a size 4, certainly way better than 50% of excess weight lost. I understand your feelings about the band. There is a lot of drama involved - a lot of stuff that, in many ways, makes food even more of an issue than it was pre-band. I can't have a tiny kid's cup of yogurt at 4:30 or I won't be able to eat dinner. No steak for me at cook out time - no hot dogs, either. Everything is a trade-off...it all has its price. I'm good with my choice to keep the band, and keep it filled pretty tight. And I'm good with everyone else's choice, too. It's your body....only you can decide what do do with it.

I am at 10 months post-banding and wanted to share my NSVs with all of you. :clap2: In no particular order: 1. I have a noticable jawline & cheeckbones, and only 1 chin. 2. I can sit in any seat now and not be squished in by the sides. 3. I now shop in the misses section for my tops (size Large). 4. I weigh less now than I have for the last 18 years. 5. I can cross my legs! 6. I can sit in a booth in a resturant without my belly hitting the table. 7. My collarbones are visible again. 8. Hubby can reach all the way around me when he hugs me. 9. I am just over 1/2 way to my goal weight (mine, not doctors). 10. I can look down when standing and see my toes! At my first visit to the surgeon my weight was 329. I now am 249.6. My personal goal is 165 or so (doctor says 135). At 5', 3", that was a lot of weight to carry around. I work out 1 1/2 to 2 hrs 5 days a week at the gym and love it. I hope to be at goal weight at my 2 year bandaversary. Thanks for sharing with me.

I hit that 70 pound mark today! I'm finally losing at a pretty good pace again, at least this week. I'm now just one pound from a "normal" BMI! I bought a size 10 pant suit yesterday, and it fits!! Yahoo! I love my band!

I am a little confused....I was banded in July '05, I had a fill in September and then again in November. I am at 2 cc. Most of January and February I felt ike I could eat a horse and that I wouldn't have any trouble doing so. The only time I felt any restriction was when I went on a cruise. I wasn't able to eat much of anything. Actually lost about 10 lbs when everyone else gained about 10 lbs. I went to the doctor in late February for a fill but he said everything was the way it was suppose to be so he wouldn't let me have a fill. I thought he was crazy since I didn't feel any restriction at all. Now, almost 3 weeks later, I am unable to eat anything other than liquids. What is up with that? My restriction changes all the time. Many have said I probably feel more restricted during stressful times and all, I can understand that, but I don't feel as though I am going through any stress right now. And to make matters worse, I passed out in the shower this morning. I was standing there, realized I wasn't feeling well so I thought I would sit down, but I guess before I could, I passed smooth out and fell out of the shower with my head banging against the bathroom tile floor. Thank goodness my husband had not left to go run yet and was still there when it happened. He said when he came in I was staring straight up, not blinking and he thought I was dead. Next thing I remember was him yelling at me to wake up. We went to the clinic, but they couldn't find anything. Hopefully it was just my sugar dropping low for a moment or something. Has anyone else ever suffered from the restriction issue?

Here's a strange request - my boss wants me to find a live play for him and his dgtr to attend between June 25-June 28 (she is pre teen). I've found several local theatres including the Children's theatre (but they are off season)- does anyone have a local paper or know of any plays during that time. Of course I need it today and I"m researching like mad, but they also have 10 other activities I'm looking for plus the hotel, well, you get it...so any help from my fellow bandster pals is MUCH APPRECIATED. THANKS! MARY

Someone shared this link before, but it I think it really gives good advice on a "good fill". I'm going to try it before my next fill, my next fill will make fill #10 for me, so I'm hoping to get to that sweet spot, I'm really close! Lap-band adjustment - Laparoscopic Band adjustment in Phoenix Arizona (AZ)

Moving to Post-op....

I go 10/21 and then they send it all to insurance. I am so excited I could just burst!!! :bananajump: Good luck to you. Look's like we will be banded close together.

I had my gallbladder removed years ago and I always told people it was the easiest surgery I ever had - I was up and walking by 10 pm that night. I would have to say that my VSG was comparable. I was up and walking within hours. I know many people complain of shoulder pain afterwards (and I had that with my Lapband surgery also) but I did not have it with the VSG surgery. I had pain meds prescribed prior to surgery and took it only a few times afterwards. The two days I was in the hospital though they administered it pretty regularly and I did not balk at that. They also gave me shots in my stomach to avoid blood clots. I was taken very good care of at Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine, FL through the US Bariatrics program. They really are experts and I think that definitely contributed to my overall positive experience after surgery and beyond. I've had numerous other surgeries - cesarean section (comparably the worst of all), Lapband, tonsillectomy, gallbladder, both elbows, etc. My VSG experience was better than my Lapband one also. Hope this helps.

I had struggled with the problem "to tell or not to tell" ever since I got my surgery done on 8-27-12. I have lost 26 pounds and it is obvious on my 5'6" frame. Many people had been coming up to me and complimenting me on my weight loss and of course the common question is "how did ya do it?" I didn't want to lie or to mislead anyone and make them think that I did it by diet alone. I wanted to be real and let them know that it is ok to need help getting healthy. I had told a couple of people and their responses had all been positive. I decided on 9-22-12 to make it "Facebook official" because we all know that unless it is said on Facebook it hasn't been said right!!! LOL. Below is my post. I was amazed at the responses I got. I had 103 likes and over 60 comments (well wishes) in the matter of a couple of hours. People are really supportive. I write this because I know lots of people struggle with the issue of telling others. I hope in some way that I can be an inspiration and let them know that it is really ok for the world to know that you needed a little bit of help getting healthy and staying healthy. You would be surprised how many people honestly want to know more about the surgery and how many people don't know where to begin on their journey to health. I have had more inbox messages asking questions about how to go about looking into surgery than I can even answer in a day’s time. I don’t necessarily want to be the poster child for gastric sleeve but I want to be supportive and help those who don't know. THE FAMOUS FACEBOOK POST THAT STARTED IT ALL!! I've struggled for years with being a "big girl". I've joked about it to cover my tears. I've dieted and lost but I always regained everything I lost plus a little. Over the years, I have done every diet known to man. Realizing that I have so much to live for I made the decision to do something about my health. I knew I needed help to get this weight off and to keep it off forever. I didn't tell anyone about my plans except those that meant the very most to me, those who wouldn't judge me for choosing to do something drastic to improve my life and my health. Today, however I am making it "Facebook official" because I have reached my very first scale goal. On 8/27/12 I had gastric sleeve surgery done. I weighed in the day of surgery at 221 big ole heavy pounds. This morning as I stepped on the scales, big huge crocodile tears ran down my face as I saw the greatest sight. I weighed less than 200 pounds!!! I've lost 10 inches in my waist line alone already. I've dropped from a size 18 to a 14 pants. I don't want to be a stick girl just healthy enough that I may grow old watching my children live productive lives and to be able to run and play with my grand babies. I want to ALWAYS be a part of their life. This surgery was only a tool that i purchased. I've had to make major changes in my life to get to this point. I have quit drinking; I haven't had a “real” coke in two years, any diet drinks, carbonation, or caffeine in 8 months. I am eating very healthy and trying to exercise every day. I'm proud of my decision to take control of my weight rather than let it control me. I am on my way to a new healthier me and I am one happy girl!!