onebadkitty

I'm 3 weeks post-op and tho I did lose some weight on the liquid part of my diet, since I have started mushies and now real food I haven't lost a pound. But.... from what I have read on here is that this first period of time (six weeks) it's all about healing, some people even gain weight after surgery. You won't see real steady weight loss until your filled and maybe a while until you get to your sweet spot. Keep your head up, you did the right thing for you. You just have to be patient with your body while it is healing. Have you been able to start walking? I'm going to start tomorrow, even if I have to go slow.

To be honest I expected more from my 2 week appointment, I mean I had to drive 4 hours one way to get to it. I went in and got weighed and vitals done and put into the room to wait. The doctor came in and asked me how I was feeling, I said fine just hungry, lol. Asked me about my diet thus far. Told me that we could move up mushies a week if I wanted. He didn't examine me in any way, didn't ask me how my incisions were healing, nothing. Then I left, it was as simple as that. I am sure if there were any issues they would have been brought up there but there just wasn't so it was short and sweet. Lee

Hi Jenn, my name is Lee Ann. I was banded on the 8th so I am right there with ya! I would love someone to be friends with and talk with about this. I'm open to phone calls as well, never know when you need an ear. Lee Ann

I was called by Tricare to tell me that my surgery was approved, Yeah! I went in for the surgery at the hospital and they told me I was clear and didn't owe anything for the surgery there. I assumed they had gotten approval through Tricare as well. I went on TricareWest online and to check my claims and found that Tricare had denied a $2000 claim by the hospital. It says patient responsibility $2000! They said that I was approved. Has anyone got any experience with this? I am so worried, this was sooo not in the budget! What will happen?! Need advice please!

I literally had my consult with the surgeon on Thursday and by Tuesday I was approved. I was a BMI of 40 and 100 lbs over my ideal weight. No nutritionist, no 6 month diet and exercise regimen, nothing. The only thing I had a problem with is that part of my surgery was not covered because the anesthesiologist was not in the Tricare "family". Be sure to ask questions like that when you talk to the bariatric coordinator at your dotors office when he sets up the surgery.

I was banded on 3/8 and I had gas pain for 3 or 4 days. You just gotta walk, walk, walk. They told me in the hospital that if you are watching tv to just get up everytime the commercial comes on and walk around the house. I'm not ready for anything more demanding yet. My pain settled in around my heart and in between my shoulder blades. It made it hard to breath, or even think! It does go away tho, walk!

I drink water, crystal and propel mixes added to water, coffee with sugar free creamer, iced lipton tea with splenda so no cal or carbs either. Obviously my portion of milk a day, but I try to do that for breakfast with a protein shake. I had a sip of a slushi the other day of my sons. It was way toooo sweet, I won't be doing that again. I was a Pepsi addict before they told me that my cholesterol and triglicerides were over the top, no more, and that's good because of the band too.

Only when my family is eating something extremely tasty! LOL!

No I haven't gotten a bill yet. I had just decided to check on my claims because I got an email saying they were ready. I have had that problem of the insurance not paying on a x-ray from and er visit because of a birthday or a social being wrong when they submitted payment. I just refused to pay, since it was DEF emergent I knew Tricare would eventually pay. I know now maybe I am freaking out before I need to, I just obviously didn't need the added unplanned expense. Though I KNOW if I was self pay it would be far greater than this amount and I should be thankful it is not more.

I bet the anesthesiologist isn't a Tricare provider, the claim was clearly a person's name and not a facility. I hope they are ok with payments cause they should have told me ahead of time. The admissions lady sat down with me and told me that I was good to go and didn't owe any charges prior to surgery that morning. When you are told there are no charges it seems wrong to then say that there are, so sry. This is certainly not what I wanted, but I am not unhappy I had the Lap Band done. Worrying about it right this second won't help anything is what my husband says. What are they gonna do? Come and take it out! LOL.

My husband is active duty military, so we are on Tricare Prime so ALL of our care should be free to us as long as we are approved for services. I was called by the person approving my surgery and she only said that I was approved. The claim for my Dr. was paid in full at the price that he quoted me. While a claim to some other person was denied. I am going to assume that that person is the anesthesiologist that was there for my surgery. It wasn't for the hospital I don't think.

I'm still having horrible hunger pains, and I am 10 days out. I just tried really hard to keep to the diet even tho it was hurting.

I know this is probably not a smart question, but everyone keeps talking about onederland...... what is it? LOL.

I had alot of gas and it did indeed feel like if I could just burp it would be all better. Since then (6 days) I am dying of hunger. I am following the full liquid diet to the fullest of my ability, but I am painfully hungry all the time.

Aloe Vera is also a good meat tenderizer.

I was recently banded on 3/8/11! The day started pretty early, I had to be at the hospital at 530 am for a 7:30 am surgery time. I showed up and found that my son would not be able to even come into the hospital, even after surgery in my room. They took me in about 5:45 or 6am and the nurse immediately started asking a million questions. Then I gave a urine sample and was weighed. They gave me groovy socks and a giant gown, placed the massage cuffs on my legs. I then got a shot in my stomach for clotting, which really didn't hurt in the slightest. They started my IV and now it was time to wait. Then the OR nurse and the anesthesiologist, the doctor, and the assistan showed up with of course more questions. The assistant went ahead and scheduled all of my follow up appointments. My Hubby and Father-in-Law came in for some comic relief since I was so nervous I was starting to get scared. They helped out alot. Then they came in and wheeled me into the OR, by this time I was almost to buyers remorse stage, lol. The nurses were really kind and they helped calm me down. I was asked to scooch onto the table, had my arms strapped out to the side. When they put the mask on my face I noticed they had an aquarium scene on the light fixture on the celing. I thought that was pretty cool, took a deap breath and that was the last thing I rememberd until I woke up in recovery. I woke up with tears streaming down my face, I think I was sort of histerical for some reason. This seems to happen to me when I have surgery, as this was the second time I have woke up that way, lol. They took me into the recovery room, and I fought to get my eyes to work properly. I had to pee and they gave me a pan, which I was unable to use, I just had to go in the bathroom. AS soon as I could walk we did that. After I finally got back around, they had me walk to my room with a wheelchair to help keep me steady. I tell you I wasn't in any real pain from the incisions but the gas pain was excruciating. It seemed to settle around my heart and in the middle of my back between my shoulder blades. I felt like I was having a heart attack. Again other than that discomfort I didn't really hurt. At this time they told me to get some rest. My husband had to stay outside with the kids since they wouldn't allow my youngest into the hospital. I couldn't lay down, the pain from the gas in my chest was so bad I had to sit up and kind of bend over. I was so tired I kind of snoozed right there. Finally they came in and walked me down to the x-ray department for the barium swallw. This stuff was pink and it was NASTY. Take two good swallows and hold your breath, turn and repeat. I almost vomited right then, but I got it down and calmed my stomach. I went back to my room to wait for the results of the xray, I couldn't have anything to eat or drink until then. My mouth was so dry it felt like I had been licking carpet, so I had to keep swishing water in my mouth. At this point I decided I was going to get rid of this gas, so I started walking up and down the corridors until my IV pump started beeping at me for a low battery. I was really determined to get this gas pain to stop. I started to get some discomfort in my belly so they brought me a shot of Morphine, and I tried to doze again, tho I really had to sit up to do it. When they finally brought me food it was jello, broth, and crystal light. I got that down without any restriction at all, thank goodness! I had to wait until 3:30 to get out of there, and only then because we informed the doctor that my family was waiting outside in the parking lot for me to come out. They gave me some pain meds for the road since we had a 4 hour drive home. Funny thing, I would have thought that the meds would be liquid but they were just the regular capsuls broken in half. I have done pretty good, the first night I was actually able to sleep in my bed, tho it had to be on my right side. Because of the pressure from the gas in my chest I couldn't do it on my back, and the port was on the left. Since then I have had little discomfort with the exception of the port area. I do need to be a bit less vigorous around the house but I hope to be fully back on my feet in a few days.

I am also on Tricare Prime-Remote. I had to have a psychological exam, a BMI of 40 or greater, and I had comorbidities. The doctor submited my paperwork on Friday and by Tuesday I was cleared for the surgery! I didn't have to show a history, do a diet or work out program. I was surprised at how little Tricare required compared to the other insurance companies. I guess that they figure that the health issues that would have outweigh the cost of surgery. I can't imagine them charging 47,000 for the surgery when the average is 16,000 to 20,000. Sounds like a doctor's office trying to rip off the insurance company.

Day Dreamer, I woke up crying full on tears as well, and then I was ok so I started laughing. Still in pain, the gas is horrid. I think the rest is gonna be fine I just gotta walk walk walk. Thanks for your prayers and words! And good luck with your weight loss as well.

I'm nervous and scared of the upcoming surgery. In my mind I compose beautiful letters to my loved one in the event that I don't make it through surgery, something to let them know how very much they mean to me. I cry just thinking about it and that's when I know I'm really scared. I know that I am trying to make a change so I will be there when they grow up and with my health problems I might not make it without this help. Well I am at 4 days and a wake up for surgery so wish me luck!

Keep your head up, as you said it is the light at the end of the tunnel! I was banded this morning and am soo excited for you.

I am doing lots of reading and haven't come up with a concrete portion or caloric intake. Every one seems to have a different plan. I just want to know how much most people comfortably eat at a sitting. Is it bad to get in more than 50 g of protein a day? Should I be on a 700 cal diet, a 1000 cal, or What!? What counts as a serving, as how much? And what number carbs should I be shooting to stay under?

I can completely understand what you are going through since my surgery is scheduled for 2 days away! I am so nervous, scared and excited all at the same time. I know that loosing this weight is the best thing for me and my health. I want to be there for my children and grandchildren. At the rate I am going that just doesn't look probable. The closer I get the more scared I get! You can do this, it's for your health. Keep telling yourself that.

That is absolutely awesome, I can imagine the feeling it must be to just get into that size! Success on your part! Congrats!

Did you know that you had the hernia before surgery? I have lost 7 lbs since my consultation appointment and I just got a call from the hospital to go over my medical history. I just wish my husband would say something, anything about this process at all but he is totally closed mouthed. My older son is really worried aboutme, since he is a teenager that is pretty remartkable! LOL. Thank you to both of you for the encouragement and reasurance.