Had my sleeve gastrectomy 3-22-11 so 14.5 months out.

I had my first Bariatric surgery on October 22, 2007 (a lapband). I was at 329# and scared about what I was doing to myself. I lost about 75 pounds. Then I plateaued FOREVER. I wasn't happy that I hadn't lost all I wanted, but felt I wasn't as big as before. I had started having some trouble that I thought was just stress related (it wasn't just that). I ignored it for months--just chalking it up to stress. I had something happen that less than 1% of band patients have happen- a severe prolapse. My band had begun to act as an obstruction instead of a restrictor. Three days after our wedding anniversary in July of 10 I was direct admitted from the Dr. office to the hospital for emergency surgery to have my band removed. I was devastated. The weight came back on like gang busters in a very short time. I ended up back over 300#'s!

My Dr./surgeon and I talked. He said I needed time to heal but we could revisit bariatric surgery but he would not put a band back in for me--he suggested the sleeve gastrectomy. I went through the process again. On March 22, 2011 I had a sleeve gastrectomy and have re-lost about 65 pounds.I know the surgery isn't the miracle for weight loss; it is a tool to help you change your habits. I have a long way to go but my supportive friends on MFP have been helping me get things on track and in perspecitive.


I was introduced to MFP about 3 months ago by someone who thought that might be very helpful--and it is! When I started looking at the groups and found the bariatric ones I was so excited!

Hi all - haven't had the surgery yet - I am on my 5th of 6 Doctor appts for a medically managed weight loss period. I am hoping that by end of August - September I will be able to have my LapBand surgery.

Any advice for someone that is hopefully just a couple of months from having it done?

Thanks

Geri

Hi all - haven't had the surgery yet - I am on my 5th of 6 Doctor appts for a medically managed weight loss period. I am hoping that by end of August - September I will be able to have my LapBand surgery.

Any advice for someone that is hopefully just a couple of months from having it done?

Thanks

Geri

The best advice I can give you is to use this time to start learning the new habits that you are going to need to carry with you for the rest of your life to remain successful. I also had to wait 6 months and initially I so discouraged for it. But looking back, it was really the best thing. During that 6 months I started working on some of that 'head stuff' that is necessary to deal with. Let's face it, we are all fat for a reason. Dealing with that is so important to your sucess. I also used that time to quit smoking, and I gave up soda. I think I miss the soda most of all but I am not willing to risk the pain to try it. I also used the time to learn to eat without drinking anything. That one was challenging. I have always been a water guzzler...and now I cant possibly do that. It was good to get used to it before surgery. Making these things a habit before surgery really helps you when you are in that post-op period. Best of luck to you!

2 1/2 years. I started working out on my own summer of 2006. Over a couple of years I had lost 80lbs then hit a plateu, then gained back 30. When I could lose anymore, I decided to get banded. I lost about 20lbs on their 3 month pre diet and about 10 on the 2 week liquid diet. I lost 70lbs since surgery, didn't go to my doctor for a year and gained 20lbs over that year. What drew my back to my doctor a month ago was I was having bad acid reflux. They found out I stretched my pouch which tilted my band, so they took out all my fluid. And I go back Friday to see if my band is back in place so I can get a fill and hopefully get back on track.

I noticed I did lose better when I tracked everything on here. So I'm back to that, and fortunately, because of tracking and being mindful of what I eat and burn, I don't think I've gained any since having my band emptied. I think I might have lost a couple pounds. We will see Friday!

I was banded in 11/2009 at a weight of 400lbs. I lost 100lbs the first year, but then plateaued and started figuring out ways to eat around the band. I didn't lose any more weight but I didn't gain any either. Recently I had to have my gall bladder removed and before surgery they removed all the fluid from my band. As a result, I splurged and gained 25lbs in 3 weeks! So taking the advice of some other people with similar experience, I joined MFP yesterday and I'm excited to get back on the wagon. I'm here looking for support, motivation, accountability, and ideas. I have a long, rough road to travel but I'm encouraged and excited.

I had my surgery on Jan. 24, 2011, so I am almost 17 mos. out. I have lost right at 80 lbs since RNY. Had lapband in 2007 and lost 30 lbs but gained most of it back. I love my RNY and would do it all over again. I'd like to lose 30-50 more pounds. If I do I will be happier, but I am also very happy with what I have done so far. Blood pressure, normal without the meds, diabetes is fine with no meds and an A1C of 4.8, Trig is also fine as is my cholesterol. Knees and lower back still bother me some but not like they did and I know I am full of arthritis from being heavy for so long.

Hi! I just found this board, and I feel at home here! I am coming up on 5 years since I had my sleeve gastrectomy. I never did get to "goal" weight, but found a comfortable zone. I have had to work hard to stay at that weight, and fluctuate up and down 15 pounds or so. I finally feel determined to get to that goal weight after all this time, and keeping track here seems to motivate me. Best wishes to everyone!

I had RNY on 12/15/09. I weighed 296 day of surgery; my lowest weight was earlier this year at 151. I had skin removal surgery on 11/16/11. I ended up gaining a little back...went up to 175 and am now down to 160.
I've started working with a trainer who is amazing and is kicking me back into gear!!
I've found exercise to be extremely important. There were days I was eating too much and getting into old eating habits but still working out hard 5-6 days a week. I'm positive if I hadn't continued exercising my weight would've gone up a lot more. Now that I'm eating healthier again I feel so much better both physically and emotionally.
Having the RNY was the best thing I have ever done for myself!

I had lap band surgery May 2009. I lost 150 pounds, I just had a baby 3 weeks ago so I am now on a goal to lose the 35 pounds I gained by Aug 4.

RNY 2/20/12 (4 months). Feeling great. Down 82 pounds (20 pre surgery). Feeling good.

I had my RNY 9/24/07.
Highest: 270s
Day of surgery: 263
1 year post-surgery: 163
Lowest: 159
Current: 192

I had 100 lbs lost on my 1 year follow up appt (a month before my wedding). My surgeon suggested I wait 18-24 mths before I got pregnant (I didn't listen and got pregnant with TWINS 15 mths post-surgery). I gained 30 lbs during my pregnancy, and got all of it plus about 4 lbs within a month after having my sons. They are now almost 3 yrs old, and I have gained back all 30 lbs I gained when I was pregnant. It's discouraging to say the least. I was happy at 163, I was wearing a size 12 (sometimes even a 10), and for the first time in my life, I felt good about my body. My surgeon told me when I saw him after my sons were born (at my 2 yr check-up) that if I kept the weight off for a year, he would refer me to the plastic surgeon to get a tummy tuck and my arms/thighs done. Needless to say, that didn't happen. I joined MFP, I started going to the gym 5-6 days a week, I work with a trainer once every 2 weeks to learn weight training exercises, I am determined to be at my prebaby weight so that I can eventually get a tummy tuck. I haven't lost lbs, but I am slowly losing inches and strengthening muscles. My surgeon said it won't be nearly as easy/quickly to lose the weight like I did after surgery. I have to change my eating habits, I have to document everything that goes in my mouth, make myself accountable for what I eat. I have to stop drinking with meals (that's hard for me to do). I have to increase fluids and remember to take my vitamins.
I am so glad I found this site, and now this group.

i am 2 years out. i went from 253 to 126, quickly in like 10 months! i could hardly eat anything and i was stuffed! doctor said i looked too thin, so at a year and a half out, and having gallbladder removal i managed to level at 135, which the doctor preferred and ask me to not go under that. i got to that weight by cheating and made myself some bad habits which increased as the hubby moved in! cooking regular meals for him i started cheating more, and snacking on a lot of slider foods... and thinking well this chocolate cake has less calories for me than him. bad bad bad!!
i feel hungrier now and although my tool still works to signal fullness i guess ive learned to ignore the signals and make myself tummyaches. and lately im having issues with rice and i still keep trying to eat it like an idiot.
so im currently 150 and im here to get back down to 135! luckily when i buckle down i do lose the weight very fast....
but i hate saying goodbye to rice n pasta n bread!

I am currently 5 months out (dwn 71lbs) and 110 (prior 2 surgery). My overall total of combined weight loss is 182lbs :bigsmile: with an additional 183 to go..if anyone was wondering my starting stats (hghest weight) 500lbs :huh: :brokenheart:...(surgery weight) 391lbs :embarassed: ...(current weight as 03.July.20-12) 320lbs :happy: ...(goal weight) 135lbs ...my frame is 05feet, 03inches :glasses:

I am 11 months out. My starting weight was 296lbs and I am currently at 145. I have been VERY active since my surgery date. In October, I started running and have been able to run in 3 races (5k's). I have 2 more scheduled for this month and then at least one more in November. I'm working now on running a 10k as well as increasing my speed

I know I'm relatively new as far as having the RNY but I don't plan on changing my behaviors..EVER! I'm so happy....

I would like to lose another 5lbs. I'm 5'7" and feel good where I'm at. Plus, I'm sure I'll lose a little when I get my plastics done

Hi, my name is Barb and I had my RNY bypass in May 1999. I weighed 293 and I now weigh 165 at 5' 8". After my surgery I steadily lost the weight and leveled off at about 155 - 160 lbs. Then I went through a stressful divorce and dropped down to about 135 lb. I eventually settled at about 155 lbs which is the weight I feel the best. At 165 lbs, I am refusing to gain anymore weight. One thing I have learned through all of my weight losses, gains and surgery is to put the brakes on my weight gain before it gets out of control. I am happy that I had the surgery, (in my heart I wish I could have lost the weight without it) but it has allowed me to enjoy a much more fullfilling and enjoyable and healthy life.

I can hardly believe it has been over 13 years. I don't even think to much about it anymore. There isn't anything I can't eat as long as I eat small portions.

I had lots of people tell me scary stories before and after I had my surgery. Seems as if everyone knew someone's Aunt's best friend's daughter that had the surgery and died or can't ever eat anything. I followed my doctor's instructions to the letter and I never had a moment of trouble.

However one important thing to remember. Take your vitamins!!. This I was lax in doing and now I am paying the price. Several weeks ago I went to see my doctor cause I had been feeling run down and very depressed. After running some blood work, my doctor found I am deficient in B12 and now must get B12 shots every month for the rest of my life. It seems that when you have the RNY it destroys the lining of the stomach that breaks down and absorbs b12 so we don't absorb it properly. It has only come to light in my situation this late because the body stores 7-8 years worth of B12 in our liver and muscles. But my huge weight loss is worth it for sure.

I wish everyone who has had the surgery and who are planning on having it the best.