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Quite a bit has happened since my last post and I have been mentally exhausted making it difficult to think about anything but how much my job is stressing me out. Enough about that... Well last Sunday I talked to my husband about the surgery. I told him I was having the surgery and would like his support. He told me no and I shrugged advising him it would not change my mind. I proceeded to tell him how this was something I had to do for myself and how it was unlike the gastric bypass my coworker had (he thinks she looks horrible) and he pretty told me I couldnt sell him on it. I told him I wasnt trying to and explained how it would give me a better quality of life. Blah Blah Blah Blah. Once Mr. Wilson makes up his mind about something, there is no changing it. He has to come around on his own after he SEES himself disproved. I know this about my husband. He has always been this way which is why I told him it would be nice to have his support, but my mind is made up. He even told me to let him know when I was going to do it so he could have "the papers" (meaning divorce) for me to sign. I totally ignored him, knowing it was the only "weapon" he thought he could use. But I didnt care and figured it became truly THAT serious for him, then I will cross that bridge when I get to it. Besides I know my husband and despite what he may see as "defiance" he loves me and will not refuse to help me when the time comes. For a moment I could see him pondering more over my stance than my words. He seemed to want to get angry, but he couldnt because I had a calm but determined attitude. As the hours and days passed since our conversation last Sunday afternoon I noticed something different about Mr. Wilson. It was as if a lightbulb went off in his head and he began to show me affection in ways that were very touching. Light kisses as I slept. Smiles and compliments were more frequent and I began to wonder...Did Mr. Wilson have a sudden epiphany of sorts remembering how I looked when we first me 8 years and 30+ lbs ago? Did he began to imagine the image I have been seeing in my dreams for years of myself as a stronger, healthier, happier more confident woman? I am not sure what happened, but it was obvious something clicked. :thumbup: So for now..it is what it is. By Thursday, my routine had returned and I struggled through my work week looking forward to Friday. When I began to create the weekly schedule for my office, I noticed one of my assistants was off the day I was scheduled to see the surgeon again (8/17) so I called the office to see if I could possibly have my appointment pushed up hoping someone cancelled. I felt a little discourage when I had to leave a message but lo and behold, I got a call back an hour later from the very helpful and excited office manager that was glad I had called in. She had been on vacation when I had my last visit so my appointment was scheduled in error. She advised that I actually was scheduled to come in last week. (it would have been nice if someone would have called me) I told her I was not aware of this appt and she apologized asking if I could come in on Monday. I told her yes, advising I was looking forward to it because the winds had been let out of my sails waiting all this time. I also told her about my sleep study being scheduled later this month with a possible 2nd one early next month, but the appointment to discuss the results were not until the first week of October. She said she would try to get it changed for me realizing that I wanted to get the surgery "yesterday" which I agreed with a chuckle. She told me she would schedule me for the psych appointment on Monday when I came in, also taking me closer to the end of the processes. If all goes well, I hope to have everything done by the end of October so it can go to my insurance company for approval and I can prayerfully get a date. I felt my excitement return and it put me back on cloud 9. Only problem is, I know I have gained weight. I am not sure how much, but I know its most if not all of the 8 lbs I had lost. I have been doing happy hour more often with other stressful workers filling my body on a Grey Goose laden pink lemonade cocktail I enjoy always with a side of buffalo wings. I feel like crap. My back aches from the slight gain and my clothes are tighter. In fact a favorite pair of jeans I purchased a size smaller (it was the last pair and they were on sale) that I was fitting well, can not be zipped.:thumbdown: Yeah guess who feels crappy about that?! One of my assistants is prepping for gastric and she just finally finished the last of her testing yesterday. We promised we would try to set our dates where they wont collide, especially since her surgery is going to require more recovery time. It looks like that is going to be impossible at this point and she will probably get to go in first. I cant worry about it or her because I still have a very long way to go and alot more work to do, but my level of excitement has come back and I am looking forward to Monday so I can find out the result of my tests and prepare for the next phase. Please keep me in prayer.

Just had my band surgery done on Aug. 4, 2009. I'm still recovering and working through the "pureed foods" diet. Feeling really great so far. I have had a few cravings for chocolate or sweets, but fight them off with a glass of water and a walk. Getting the motivation to work out for 30 minutes is tough, especially when I'm still sore. I'm scheduled for my first fill on Sept. 1, 2009. I want to tell everyone on here that you are so encouraging when you share your success and struggles and it's really comforting to know that there are many others out there going through the same thing. Good luck to you all!:thumbup: Starting weight: 255 Current weight: 242 Goal weight: 150

I am so happy for you my last weight appt is next month on the 9Th and i cant wait so keep me posted and tell us how it was what is your goal

Yesterday I attended my first support meeting. My oldest daughter and husband had to work so my youngest daughter accompanied me. The surgeon and nutrionist were there with about 7 post op patients, 4 pre op patients and 3 others supporters of post and pre op patients. It was very informal and it was like visiting this website without the typing. :tt2: As everyone went around the room for introductions I took mental inventory of who was post op wondering what they looked like before. I started off the questioning wondering if anyone had experienced that feeling wondering if they had made a mistake intially after having surgery and the room was filled with loud "YES!" But they also chimed in how it passed. As the Q & A progressed, I realized all of the post op patients had gastric and there wasnt a single person in the room that could tell me about their lap band experience. So I couldnt relate to the stories of "dumping" and no one could tell me what a "fill" feels like. I was disappointed :eek: but to get their perspective of what it is like to have reached such a big goal and how their lives had changed as a result of the weight loss, kept my attention. As with any group, there was the negative people who only seemed to speak up when it was time to complain :biggrin: but a couple of really positive people that made me feel proud of them as if I knew them personally. :thumbup: I heard the stories about being able to do the simple things again (like running up a flight of steps without being winded or crossing your legs) and battles they still deal with (cravings, social functions, etc) Many of them were there to get more support than offer it (because they had gained weight back) and a few were having a difficult time mentally accepting their new body image because the extra skin made them feel more unattractive. One woman had just had surgery last month and she looked very good which was a surprise since the only person I ever knew to have gastric was still in the bed 3 weeks after surgery. With the exception of 1 other guy, I think I may have also been the youngest person in the room, making me wonder how many of them wished the could have done it sooner ( I know I do) and how many years did they suffer with weight related health issues and self esteem issues before making the choice to have the surgery. I wanted to ask about hair loss, but the woman sitting next to me was completely bald and since I wasn't sure if it was a fashion choice (because she really looked good with it) or a result of the gastric, I decided to leave that question out.:sad: In the adjoining auditorium, the surgeon was having an orientation meeting with new patients and he asked if some of the post op patients were willing to stay and speak to them, and the meeting came to an end, but not before I asked the group did anyone have a "before" picture. Only one person did, because many of them, hated the way they looked in pictures so much they said they had stopped taking them. Not surprisingly it was the most positive woman in the room. She pulled her cell phone out and showed a picture she took last year on her birthday and I had to take a double take because she looks like a soccer mom that has been in shape her entire life. If I saw this woman in any other venue, I would have never thought she had WLS. I hugged and thanked her for sharing, realizing who I am today, does not have to be who I choose to be tomorrow. I left with samples of broth, puddings and drinks used by post op patients. I had purchased Ensure before arriving at the meeting planning a self imposed liquid diet to "practice" in the weeks to come. I am glad I attended the meeting,and hope to one day be that positive person providing inspiration to others who are ready to regain control of their lives.

I have an appointment in two weeks. Still waiting on insurance to approve and it seems like I can't get enough to eat. I'm suppose to be losing weight prior to the surgery. I feel like I'm eating just so the Doctor will tell me she won't do the surgery. That way I won't have to make the final decision. Most the time I want to get the surgery but there are times I'm having second thoughts. My husband and two kids are very supportive and tell me to just do it, if that is what I want but I'm afraid to make that final decision. I'm really afraid of that vomitting stuff everyone talks about. I'm in the medical field and as everyone knows we all eat as fast as we can, because we get very little time to eat. If anyone has comments or suggestions I would love to hear them.

This past Monday I went in for my much anticipated visit with the doctor and nutrionist. It was my first time back in over a month and I was excited, curious and nervous all at the same time. I was excited because I knew this was another step closer to where I eventually want to be, curious about my test results and nervous about getting on the scale because I knew I had gained weight. Well, my appt definitely took me closer because by the time I left I had my psych appt scheduled (8/20), my appt following the sleep study moved up 2 weeks and in between appts to return to the doctor. More or less I have an appt every week between now and the end of Sept and if everything goes well, I may be looking at an Oct date. My test results came back well. I was told that my ultrasound and upper GI was normal and my blood tests were excellent. My blood clot scare last year had me wondering about how my tests would come out since this is always a worry for me now, but it gave me a chance to dicuss this further and I will see the doctor that will insert the filter to avoid clots prior to surgery on my next appt at the hospital. My fear about the weight gain rang true. I knew it from the way I was feeling. My back has been aching and I feel sluggish. My back aches at a 5 lb weight gain, so I knew I had at least gained that..but I was shocked to learn it was in fact 11 lbs. :wink: I was told it was probably fluid. Yeah..Grey Goose I explained. The numerous happy hours my co workers and I had attended since my last visit had caught up with me. The nutrionist and doctor both encouragingly told me not to worried since "thats what I am there for". I later had to laugh since it was the first time I wasn't scolded by a health care professional for gaining weight. The surgeon on the other hand, came to see me with a couple of students, wasnt as dismissive reminding me of the high calorie content of alcohol and how important calories will be when I get lap band since my body will not reject the sugar automatically like gastric. I knew he was right and could only sit there like a scolded kid nodding in agreement. I needed that kick in the ass. It brought the importance of this surgery and saving my life back to the forefront of my mind. I had lost focus having so much time in between appointments and simply slipped back into bad habits. I had to get back on the horse. As I explained to the nutrionist, I KNOW what to do, its DOING it. I am a professional dieter. I know it all..I have read it all. I am just a very unsuccessful dieter. She listened but I could see she wasnt buying it, she gave me my food journal for the week and told me to fax it on Friday. She told me her appt is last and usually a couple of weeks before my date to avoid wasting money if not approved. She said she had flexible hours so I said, cool lets meet for drinks. I quickly followed with..IM JOKING! and she actually laughed, then added, sure we will meet for breakfast and have carnation instant breakfast drinks! She was so quick I had to join her in laughing. :eek: She later repeated it to the surgeon who also got a laugh. Putting that imprint on her mind, also puts her in the forefront of mine. I know I have to make more of an effort to do the right thing because it is truly now or never.

10 months out now. My doctor originally told me a good target I could expect to hit was 205lbs. My plans were to hit 200lbs. At the time that sounded so unreal I knew I'd be thrilled if it ever happened. When I hit 200 I was thrilled. But I went ahead and set a new goal for 185lbs. That seemed achievable at that point. Today I hit the 185 goal. Yea!!!! Now comes the strange feeling. For so long before sleeve and after I've been in constant thought mode about losing weight. If I was not losing weight then I was likely gaining weight. So my focus has been on losing, losing, losing. My reaction right now is to establish a new goal (say 175lbs) to aim for. I don't really need to lose any more weight. But my fear is if I'm not losing then I'll be gaining. Maintenance is something I have no experiecne with either in actions or in mindset. I've read others discussion on their maintenance transition. It seems to have come fairly natural for many. Maybe it will for me as well. For now I'm staying more on the keep losing mentality cause I can't help myself. Having said all that....God bless the sleeve and the health that has been restored to me. I could not be happier and would not want to imply otherwise. Although maintenance mode is foreign to me if its like everything else it won't be too hard to figure out.

My First Fill So today was my first. It came by very quickly considering I just had my surgery on July 7th. He had to remove two staples that were sticking out of my incisions. Doc seemed to be a bit embarrassed by them, I was just glad that they were taken out. No one enjoys getting that caught on their shirt. The whole process was quite painless and I didn’t have any problems drinking the water they gave me. The only downside is that I’m on water the rest of the day, tomorrow I can my protein shakes. I can’t wait for Wednesday when I’m back to soft foods. My poor belly has been growling all day, but it’s just part of the process. So I’ve lost a bit of weight. I’m really getting along nicely and I’m thankful that this has been a pretty smooth process thus far. No more emotional eating, I can hear my belly growl when it wants food, I don’t feel like a stuffed sausage in all my clothes. I’m down to 223 lbs. That means I’m down 27 lbs since my heaviest and down 14 since my surgery. Not bad numbers, but more than that I feel so much better. I feel pretty good and I can’t wait to see how’ll I’ll feel with another 20 lbs lost. It’s such an exciting process.

I was banded on 7/7. I lost 14lbs in the begining. Since then i have been putting the ounds back on. I cant eat as much as i could and i dont eat alot of the things i use to. But something i can eat. Im afraid that im gonna fail at this. My first fill is on wednesday so i hope it helps me with my weight.

I needed to start early because I needed to lose 10lbs preop. I started walking 10" three times a day and I am now up to 3.5-4miles a day. It really helps with the weight loss and I have found that If I don't to some form of exercise I feel anxious and a little bit guilty. I will tell you that it takes time out of your day. I am fortunate that I am not required to be on a schedule so taking an hour or two hours out of the day is not a hardship. Having had total knee replacements I can tell you that preop excerise is very helpful in the post op phase.

Hello everyone just an update i had surgery on 11-4-09 i started at 367 down to 316 amazing how different i feel great 27% to my goal weight on my way check back for more updates:tt2:

I agree with the previous posters. It is definitely all worth it in the end and your health is very important. If it is a lot safer to lose a bit first then you will be better off. You will also find adjusting to band life is easier if you have gone through liquid dieting phases and worked on weight loss before being banded. Surgeons are different and I bet you I can find three different qualified surgeons in my town that have vastly different ideas about what they prefer. Preliminary weight loss may improve your chances for a healthier outcome so most surgeons will probably suggest this. However, with this kind of surgery perhaps it would be best to check with another surgeon as well for an initial consultation. Can I ask what your BMI is? I was curious if the recommended loss is more due to a high BMI or a personal preference for your surgeon.

Gastrectomies have been done since the 1800s. Not exactly new. For weight loss, that's new. Since about the 70s, longer than the band. Cheers.

Relax do what surgery you think is best for you. Know all the pros and cons to both and then make your choice. I don't know how much you weigh but it is probably best to lose some weight first you want to give yourself the best chance to come out ok. And yes the liquid diet is going to suck but it will be worth it.

a second opinion for any surgery is the smartest thing to do. then research both surgeries yourself and decide which one you prefer for yourself. i wouldn't bash any weight loss surgery that worked for that person. because being obese is the real killer.

Actually, it's a pretty good suggestion and long term a sleeve is safer than a band. A band can do one heck of a lot of damage to your stomach and your esophagus. Why would you want to reverse a lap band? The only reason to remove a band is because the band itself is causing problems. For what reason would you care to regain your excess weight?

Hi Marko! I would not worry so much about hair loss. It does happen to some, especially when your body goes through "trauma" such as a dramatic weight loss. But because we are losing weight pretty slow, I haven't seen anything too bad. My hair stylist actually got the band about six years ago, and since she knows so much about hair, I asked her for me. She told me that, if it happens, it will probably happen some time between month 3 and 6 post-op, and that DON'T WORRY, because this time, the hair WILL grow back! So no matter what, the hair you lose after surgery DOES grow back. Depending on age, it may not grow in as thick, but it will come back. I would take being healthy over having all my hair any day. Good luck on your weight loss journey!

I had my surgery almost 3 months ago now and so far I have lost a total of 47 lbs since the actual surgery date. I feel like I haven't lost enough or that I'm doing well. I feel ok and at first I was losing weight consistently but now I've been stuck at 189 for the past 2 weeks. I admit I haven't been able to get as much exercise as I should being that I leave my house at 530am and don't get back home until 730pm sometimes later. Everyone compliments me and says that I look good and can tell I have list weight. Any ideas. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using the BariatricPal App

Once in a while someone has a bad surgery... leaving the stomach too big. Have you had an image taken of your current sleeve to see whats up there? Once that is proven to be ok (or not) you can double down on an eating plan. Please do go back to your Dr, or see if you can go to another if possilbe if you have lost confidence in her. And yes, use Myfitnesspal, protein first, and drink all your water! I took 3 years to get to goal, so its not all fast and easy for many. I was at around 50 pounds at a year. I had to just keep going on, and tried some different things... I tryed the 5:2 which got me to goal after gaining 20 pounds.... at this time I am up around 13 pounds from goal again.... trying the 5 day pouch test, and have lost 5 pounds of water weight in two days so far. Just keep on trying girl! Don't give up.... I know when i try and just be "normal" and eat how I used to, without keeping track of what I eat.... I GAIN.

Hey December bandsters! I was just banded on 12/27. I am doing well . . still have a bit of pain and am on a full liquid diet for 3 weeks . . . that is what my doctor recommends. I am very excited for 2012 and the changes in my weight and health and energy level. I would love to join your little group and we can offer support to each other. : )

My idea is to ratchet down your expectations about the speed of your weight loss. You are putting a lot of unnecessary stress on yourself and your wishes for how fast weight loss will proceed may not be entirely realistic. I lost a total of 40 lbs in the first three months (I started at a higher BMI than most btw) and I was pleased and my bariatric team told me I was doing fantastic. In my book you should be thrilled about your weight loss. Occasionally stalls and pauses along the way are completely normal. Don't worry about them unless you think you are not following your program correctly to the tune of eating several hundred/thousand calories per day more than you should be, which I would guess you are not!

Hi everyone! I’m new here. I am going to Dr Carmody’s office in Richmond, Virginia this week for my initial consultation. I am thinking of getting the gastric sleeve surgery. I’m so nervous! I have been obese my entire life. I really gained weight when I was pregnant with my 2nd son and never lost the pregnancy weight. That was 11 years ago! I considered the surgery 8 years ago, went to the seminar, visited the nutritionist, had the EGD... but I decided against it because I didn’t have the money at the time. A few questions for you all. 1. Did you work on weight loss before your consultation? I’m afraid that I will have a tougher time losing the prescribed weight before surgery if I’m working hard on weight loss now. 2. How long did you stay in the hospital after your gastric sleeve surgery? 3. Does your weight loss team offer support groups? If so are they worthwhile?

Looking great! We were the same starting weight and at 12 weeks I am sitting in a stall at 230 pounds. Very motivating to see your pics!

I think it is completely normal, especially when you don't have that support. But like everyone here I am sure you've done the weight loss thing before and it DOESN'T work!!! We lose then gain back and usually more than we lost. As for me, I wasn't feeling too bad until they wheeled me into preop..then I started to get really nervous...I am 8 weeks post op and feeling so much better in myself, I KNOW I made the right choice! and though I have had moments of frustration, I know that I will get there in the long run. This band is a journey of ups and downs and you are bound to have some downs again just remember that it is a long process, not a quick fix and at times you may be discouraged (the weeks of plateauing weight, waiting for those fills, gaining back due to no restriction), especially if you have that negativity! Just make sure you come on this site and get your support from here and from co workers if you can! finding that sweet spot will take time so hang in there. we will all get there in the end! I love my band!